Roman Emperors return to Coleshill
The first project to be completed at the National Trust’s Heritage Skills Centre has been completed. One of the only elements of Coleshill House still standing after it was destroyed by fire in 1952 were the grand rectangular gate piers, and each of them had the bust of a Roman emperor set within them. Sadly, the original busts were stolen in the 1990’s. The busts, set within their recessed roundels, echoed the classical interior of the house. As philosophers and effective governors, Emperor Aurelius and Antoninus were appropriate classical figures for a progressive, historically conscious 17th century landowner to align with.
The original stone busts of Marcus Aurelius and Antoninus Pius were set in the rectangular gate piers which once led to Coleshill House. The great 17th century house was amongst the most famous and influential of its age, described by John Betjeman as “the first great house of the English Renaissance.” Given the significance of the busts to the history of the estate, the National Trust took the decision to recreate the stolen artefacts. The National Trust commissioned award-winning carver Thomas Ball, who occupies a workshop at the charity’s Heritage Skills Centre at Coleshill, to recreate the busts in Bath stone.
Ben Alsop, National Trust curator: “Once again Marcus Aurelius and Antoninus Pius stand watch over the Coleshill parkland, acting as a reminder of the importance of classical art and architecture within the lost house. The return of the Emperors’ busts is an echo of the site’s former greatness, but also a testament to the great skill of Tom Ball and people like Tom who have found at home at the National Trust’s Heritage Skills Centre at Coleshill.”
Tom began work on the project in April 2019 and began by enlarging the historic photographs to life size. The Emperors’ noses had been eroded away by the time the pictures were taken, so he also used images of the two emperors from other museum collections. He said about undertaking the task ““Carving the replacement busts has been a fantastic opportunity. I’ve really enjoyed working alongside the National Trust team here and sharing my work and process with the community of Coleshill. I’m very grateful for all the support I’ve received and look forward to seeing the Heritage Skills Centre develop and to playing a part in passing on traditional craft skills.”
The Heritage Skills Centre is forging partnerships with universities and technical colleges to provide training, qualifications and facilitate apprenticeships and employment in traditional building skills. New exhibition spaces are increasing opportunities for local communities to visit and engage with the built and natural heritage, and Christian Walker, National Trust General Manager of the Buscot and Coleshill estates is planning new partnerships and outreach programmes to increase social inclusion and wellbeing.
The Heritage Skills Centre also partners with organisations such as the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) to run short, practical training courses for the general public. Confirmed courses for next year include: - Introduction to lime plastering – 25-26 March 2022 Letter cutting in stone – 6-7 May 2022 (Being taught by Tom who recreated the heads) & Ornamental plastering – 20-21 May
Book via the website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/buscot-and-coleshill-estates
Picture – © Tom Warland
