Dyrham Park
Repair and conservation of a Baroque mansion
Dyrham Park is a resplendent 17th century Baroque mansion near Bath and Bristol, set within a Grade II*-listed deer park. Owned by the National Trust, the house had suffered decades of neglect before a major £3.1m conservation project, led by Purcell, brought it back to life.
Conservation in action
A standout feature of the project was its fully accessible scaffold — a 25-metre-high walkway that let visitors watch the conservation work up close. More than 215,000 people took part, increasing annual footfall by 30% and creating a truly unique visitor experience.
Visitors were invited to sign replacement roof slates in exchange for donations, raising over £100,000. Old slates were repurposed into clocks and tableware sold in the gift shop. ‘Meet the builder’ and ‘meet the expert’ days gave the public direct access to the craftspeople and specialists behind the work.
Part-funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the project also supported apprenticeships, local college students, and SPAB scholars. It served as a real-world training ground for young professionals, stonemasons, and conservation officers.
In numbers
9,000
Welsh Heather Blue Penrhyn roofslates replaced
50
tonnes of sand-cast lead replaced
£3.1m
total cost of restoration
Restoring the roof and reviving the orangery
The entire roofscape — including the East, West, North, and Central mansard roofs — was carefully stripped and rebuilt. We replaced 46 tonnes of failing lead with 50 tonnes of new sand-cast lead and installed 9,000 Welsh slates for long-term durability and visual harmony.
Alongside this, failing stone was repaired or replaced using local Bathstone, and a new lightning protection system and safe access features were discreetly integrated.
The 17th-century orangery was redesigned to allow better maintenance access and resolve long-standing drainage issues. Rotted rafter ends were repaired using traditional scarf joints, and toughened glass improved functionality and durability — preserving as much original fabric as possible.
This sensitive restoration project has safeguarded Dyrham Park’s Baroque architecture while engaging the public in its transformation.
Details
- Client The National Trust
- Team Bristol Studio
- Location Bath
- Country United Kingdom
- Listing Status Grade I
- Photography The National Trust
Awards
- Civic Trust Award: AABC Conservation Won 2017
- RICS South West: Building Conservation Shortlisted 2017
- National Trust Visitor Experience Awards: Outstanding Achievment Shortlisted 2015
