We have recently begun a seven year project to conserve Hever Castle’s large collection of classical statuary and sculpture which dates from Roman times through to the Renaissance.
The statues, urns, sarcophagi, well-heads and columns were brought to Hever between 1903 by collector of antiquities, William Waldorf Astor, when he was an American representative in Rome.
One of the most magnificent areas of the Grade 1 listed garden is the Italian Garden which was designed to display Astor’s historic collection of sculpture.
Julia Gynn, Senior Conservator led the team of three Cliveden conservators on site and did a fantastic job representing us and securing the next phases of work.
Hever Castle Chief Executive, Duncan Leslie, was delighted that the antiquities were restored to their former glory. ‘We have over 200 statues and pieces of sculpture,’ he said. ‘It’s an amazing opportunity for visitors to see such historic pieces displayed in our award-winning gardens rather than a museum. And a fitting coincidence that Cliveden Conservation is based at Cliveden House in Berkshire, the Italianate mansion and estate that was home to Astor in 1893, just 10 years before he acquired Hever Castle.’