Work has been completed to restore a Victorian summerhouse at a National Trust site which has been closed for several years.
The Fawn Summerhouse at the Ickworth Estate in Horringer, near Bury St Edmunds, has been undergoing restoration after it suffered weather damage.
After being closed for a number of years, a complex eight-week project has seen the building, which dates back to the 1830s, reopen to the public.
The summerhouse was restored during an eight-week project (Image: National Trust)
Adrian Shepherd, general manager of the Ickworth Estate, said: “It wasn’t a straight forward repair project, as is often the case with buildings of this age, as much of the damage wasn’t fully obvious until the roof was removed.
"Once the roof tiles were taken off we were able to see the scale of the rot caused by water. Much of the roof frame was rotten and some of the brickwork also need repair. We were keen to reuse as much of the original material as possible.
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"Now the work is complete, and the Fawn Summerhouse is weatherproof we hope it will remain open for visitors to sit and rest whilst out enjoying the beautiful Albana Woodland”.
The summerhouse is one of two which is being restored by the National Trust.
It is hoped the 1st Earl’s Summerhouse in the walled garden, believed to be the oldest building on the site, can be completed by next year.
Chloe Woodrow, curator at Ickworth Estate, said: “It’s important that we ensure the survival of these historical buildings as they are a significant and important part of the fabric and story of Ickworth, and the people who have lived here.
"It’s thanks to the support of our visitors and members that we can carry out these projects and look after the estate in our care.”
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