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Project: The Australia Gate

Client: The Royal Parks

Principle Contractor: Vinci Facilities

The Australia Gate is one of the Dominion Gates that form a vast memorial scheme in front of Buckingham Palace, commemorating the death of Queen Victoria. This ceremonial gate, designed by Sir Aston Webb, was presented by Australia to the United Kingdom as a tribute to Queen Victoria. The Memorial was formally unveiled by King George V in 1911. The gates, piers, balustrades and retaining walls of the Memorial Gardens are all protected landmarks.

Barwin have cleaned and maintained this iconic gate for a number of years using Stonehealth’s DOFF system, this is based on a 5 year term contract with The Royal Parks. The gates are situated in a very busy public area and many precautions must be made. The works are usually carried out from a cherry picker, early in the morning to avoid busy periods before the rush hour, with the traffic management in place. Paths closures and road restrictions have to be put in place, as public safety is of the up-most importance.

Project: Hyde Park Corner Screen, London

Client: The Royal Parks

 

The Hyde Park Corner Screen located at Hyde Park Corner next to Apsley House was designed in 1825 by Decimus Burton. It was constructed between 1826 – 29 and forms a grand exit from the Park on the ceremonial route to Buckingham Palace. The gate is thirty-three meter (107 ft.) wide with three arches connected by an Ionic colonnade. Each of the side arches is abutted with a flat arched opening and pedestrian gate. All arches have ornamental cast iron gates opening to the Park.  The main arch has smaller gates on the outside.  The colonnade screens are fronted by decorative arrowhead cast iron railings on both sides. It is Grade I Listed.
 
As part of an ongoing maintenance and conservation plan, Barwin has carried out the restoration of the ornamental cast iron gates and railings. All works were undertaken by our skilled, competent and experienced operatives in accordance with the instructions from The Royal Parks.
 
Scope of works:
  • Dry grit blasting to remove all coatings and contaminants from the vehicle gates and pedestrian gate
  • Preparation and redecoration of the gates in accordance with Hempel paint system specifications
  • Application of an additional two top coats of SC329 bronze green.

Project: The Buxton Memorial Fountain

Client: The Royal Parks

The Buxton Memorial Fountain is a memorial and drinking fountain that commemorates the emancipation of slaves in the British Empire in 1834. It was designed by Gothic architect Samuel Sanders Teulon (1812–1873) in 1865. Originally constructed in Parliament Square. It was removed in 1949 and not reinstated in its present position in Victoria Tower Gardens until 1957. There were eight decorative figures of British rulers on it, but four were stolen in 1960 and four in 1971. They were replaced by fibreglass figures in 1980. By 2005 these were also missing, and the fountain was no longer working. Between autumn 2006 and February 2007 restoration works were carried out. The restored fountain was unveiled on 27 March 2007 as part of the commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the act to abolish the slave trade.

The base is octagonal, about twelve feet in diameter, having open arches on the eight sides, supported on clustered shafts of polished Devonshire marble around a large central shaft, with four massive granite basins. Surmounting the pinnacles at the angles of the octagon are eight figures of bronze, representing the different rulers of England.

Barwin carried out a thorough DOFF steam system cleaningof all surfaces, removing dirt and residue from traffic.