Client
English Heritage Trust
Value
£600k
Sectors & Services
Osborne House is one of the Isle of Wight’s most important historic estates, with its lower and upper terraces forming a key part of the visitor experience. Following the successful delivery of two earlier projects at the site, CRL Restoration was invited to tender for the restoration of these significant external areas and commenced works in January 2017.
The terraces had suffered from age-related deterioration to lime render, stone steps, decorative features and drainage, exacerbated by prolonged exposure to the elements. The project was required to safeguard the historic fabric, reinstate lost architectural detail, and enable the terraces to be safely reopened to the public.
Services undertaken
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DOFF steam cleaning
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Erection of tented weather protection
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Removal and replacement of lime render
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Grouting of cracks in render
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Removal and replacement of decorative rendered mouldings
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Restoration of rendered urns, balls and statues
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Removal and replacement of limestone steps
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Lifting, foundation construction and relaying of stone steps
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Lifting, waterproofing and relaying of existing flagstones
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Limewash painting to rendered surfaces
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Groundworks for new service trenches
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Supervision of fountain, shell alcove and statue restoration works
The restoration works demanded a careful balance between traditional craftsmanship, modern planning, and strict heritage controls. Given the winter start date, CRL Restoration erected tented weather protection to fully enclose working areas, allowing repairs to proceed safely while protecting materials from freezing conditions. This approach ensured that lime-based materials could be applied and cured correctly, safeguarding long-term performance.
External surfaces were cleaned using DOFF steam cleaning to remove contaminants without damaging historic substrates. Deteriorated lime render was carefully removed and replaced, with cracks grouted and defective decorative mouldings renewed to match the original profiles. Featured rendered elements, including urns, balls and statues, were restored with close attention to detail to preserve their architectural integrity. Limestone steps were removed and replaced where necessary, with existing stone steps lifted, new foundations constructed, and the steps relaid to improve stability and durability.
Existing flagstones were lifted, waterproofed and relaid, improving drainage and resilience. Rendered surfaces were finished with limewash to maintain breathability and visual consistency. Groundworks were also undertaken to form trenches for new services. CRL Restoration supervised specialist heritage works delivered directly for English Heritage, including the restoration of the Andromeda fountain, shell alcove and brass statues. The project was delivered using predominantly local labour, supported by trainees from the Isle of Wight College, reflecting CRL’s commitment to skills development and sustainable practice.
“CRL’s workmanship was of the highest quality as you would expect working on a nationally important site; they worked to deliver a zero-defect project in close co-operation with EH Curatorial staff and Heritage Architect. The contractor was a good team player and was always collaborative and positive in their approach to working with the client and design team. The contractor demonstrated a strong understanding of building conservation and appropriate methodology relevant to the scope of repairs.”
Nichola Tasker | Estates Director | English Heritage
Beyond restoring the terraces’ appearance, the project delivered lasting protection to this highly significant heritage asset. The use of compatible lime-based materials and careful detailing has improved durability while allowing the structure to breathe, reducing future maintenance demands. Tented weather protection, robust programming and close collaboration with English Heritage ensured quality outcomes despite challenging winter conditions.
By integrating local labour and training opportunities, CRL Restoration supported sustainable asset management and skills transfer. The successful reopening of the lower terraces to the public for the first time in many years demonstrates CRL’s ability to deliver complex, sensitive restoration projects safely, efficiently and to the highest conservation standards.
