Preservation is more than just the large capital projects. It is the ongoing maintenance, care, specialised cleaning and attention to detail. It’s the little things, such as careful cleaning of the delicate glass panes in all the windows, caring for the frames so that we can open and close them. Special polishing of the intricate oak wood panels, cleaning the wood and marble floors, maintaining the gutters and drains, sweeping the chimneys, treating patches of dry rot or woodworm, careful planning and completion of the annual house deep clean, upgrading the electrics, looking after our main ancient oaks and beech trees, care of the garden and its beautiful plants. Preserving habitat for the local wildlife and of course, peeling back the layers of history and learning more about this fascinating site through research and investigation
Restoration history:
1862 –1876 Sir Henry de Hoghton. Began Restoration in 1860
1876 – 1893 Sir Charles de Hoghton. Continued the work of Henry, his brother.
1893 – 1938 Sir James de Hoghton. Introduction of the Initial electrification of the House. Re-modernisation of the well and water supply. This major period of restoration was completed in 1901.
Ongoing preservation and discovery
Outline of major restoration projects
- By 1978 the house was suffering from extensive dry rot. The first major restoration project involved treating most of the State rooms for this insidious and damaging fungi.
- The whole building was rewired for the first time since the original installation.
- The East Wing of the house was brought back to life after years of neglect with its beautiful, oak panelled rooms, refreshed and made habitable again.
- Restoration of the Grade II listed stables adjacent to the old Coach House. This was possible due to the ongoing work of the Hoghton Tower Preservation Trust and the many visitors who have generously supported us.
- The ‘Raise the Roof’ project in 2014/2015 addressed the urgent need to restore the roof surrounding the Inner Courtyard and covering the main state rooms including the historic Banqueting Hall. This would not have been possible without support from the Garfield Weston Trust and the Country House Foundation.
- In 2019 urgent works began to save the failing roof of the Grade II listed coach house from collapse. Thanks to gratefully received donations and visitor support.
Currently, we are undertaking a programme of restoration and repairs to our historic windows including those in our Banqueting Hall. Works started in March 2021 and will be completed by July 2021. Thanks to support from Historic England through the Culture Recovery Fund.
