refurbishment of the office facilities generally. In addition to general decorators, specialist conservators (i ncl udi ng students from the Conservation and Restoration Course at the Lincoln College of Arc and Design) were called in to specify and undertake the restoration works to the original Georgian interior. Painstaking research work was undertaken to identify the original colour scheme, and minute samples of paint were collected from each of the architectural features in the Ballroom and other civic rooms. These samples were examined under a microscope and the findings were verified by paint scrapes. Preparatory work and repairs to the fabric and general decoration started whilst conservators continued co investigate the original colour scheme to verify and expand on previous information. Defective areas of flat plaster were repaired using traditional loose-hair plaster on sofrwood laths, whilst moulds were taken from the original features to produce facsimile replacements where absolutely necessary. The decorators used flat oil paints to recreate the effect of the original leadbased paints. Enormous care was taken to replicate the original colours as closely as possible. The test colours were hand-mixed by students to precisely match historical samples and che final colours were similarly hand-mixed from white. Research through sampling revealed chat substantial areas of che original colour scheme of the Ballroom were gilded. This was painstakingly reproduced by gilders using traditional techniques. Each area was carefully prepared with ochre coloured paint followed by glue size. Once this became tacky, gold leaf was applied by cuccing to shape and then applying with a brush. Each of the Corinthian capitals took one gilder approximately one week to complete. The stripping of the three main doorcases revealed fine carved limewood friezes, which were inherently very delicate and had sustained long-term damage. These had to be carefully removed to the carvers' workshop for repair. The marble chimneypieces were likewise in poor condition; badly chipped and suffering from localised salt efflorescence caused by smoke. More recent attempts to remove dirt from the fireplaces by means of disc grinders had led to an almost total loss of the original surface. Conservators had to repair and consolidate the marble using microcrystalline wax to recreate a smooth surface finish. CONCLUSION The restoration work at Newark Town Hall, and in particular the exemplary recreation of the original assembly room decoration to as near the original state as possible, is a tribute to all those involved in the project, particularly the specialist trades and crafts people responsible for the painstaking conservation of interior decoration. Although to 20th-century eyes the newly decorated interior may appear stark, it is an accurate reproduction of how the interior probably looked in the 1770s at the height of its Georgian splendour. The use of enabling development to achieve conservation aims has perhaps been a controversial one in this case. On the other hand Newark Town Council would not have been able to achieve the high-qualiry restoration of the Town Hall without it, and some other way of repairing and maintaining the building would have had to be found - probably through the public purse. This case perhaps exemplifies the challenges, opportunities and dilemmas which face those who are charged with the responsibility of maintaining our most precious Grade I historic buildings. Philip Grover is Conservation Officer for Newark & Sherwood District Council. The Eagle, Cambridge's most famous pub, finally re-opened on 1 October 1992 having been closed since 1988. It is the last remaining of Cambridge's coaching inns: arguably its best known feature is not the galleried yard but the RAF bar, wi eh its RAF and USAF squadron numbers and names (and one female nude!) drawn on to the ceiling with cigarecce butts during the 1939-45 war (for Archers' fans, it was the Eagle ceiling that Con was going to take Peggie to see, but the scriptwriters were too early for che re-opening!). The RAF bar is in che l 9ch-century rear part; the middle range is 1592-1600, and the front range co the street is mid 17th century. The Eagle is owned by Corpus Christi College, and there was a long and typically Cambridge saga of negotiation before the Cicy Council was able to ensure chat pub users would have access to the yard. During the years of closure, che College had kept a low level of heating in the RAF bar to prevent dampness and deterioration of the ceiling; regrettably, it did not take similar precautions with the valley gutter ac the rear of the middle range. Hirst Conservation was engaged to repair che RAF bar ceiling; what we did not expect is that they would also have to be involved in conserving wall paintings. Two sections of painting (carried over both the plaster and the scuds), were uncovered in the back room of the middle range. David Park at the Courtauld Institute identified them as 17th century, but he could not provide information on how special chey were. Lacer, cwo walls of che landlord's accommodation upstairs were found to be painted in a similar marbled pattern, but in grey rather than brown. The main painted wall was directly below the leaking valley gutter, and the wall place had rocced away completely! With 'a lot I I I I r L'::================================================================ WandsetLimited classidur®highperformancepaint andFS-2eanti-mouldadditive classidure-a rangeofhighperformanceflatmattandsatininteriorpaintsthat requirenopreparationbuthaveexcellent coveringability. FS-2- a non-toxicadditivewithanticryptogamicandbacteriocidal I fungicidal properties. Applications classidur,. issuitableforallinteriorwallsandceilingsparticularly overpreviouslystainedorchalkingsubstrates. FS-2maybemixedwithpaint toforma preventativeanti-mouldpaint,orinsolutionina curativerole. Appearance classidur®paintsarewhitewithotherpastelcolours, achieved bytinting,availableonrequest. ServicesA fullsalesandadvisoryservice. RIBAProduct Data see Vv. Telephone: (0626)770570 Fax: (0626)778856 16 011 dried~ Oler Sf,-· . wills ~ ,,;'i:~/,:-.;_k''.""'2;,;;;, withnopreparation atall!· CONTEXT 40 ,
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