NICK COX ARCHITECTS

Nick Cox Architects was established in 2006 and is based in north Oxfordshire. The practice also has offices in London and Frome, Somerset. The practice specialises in the repair and conservation of historic buildings and the design of new buildings in historic contexts.

Blenheim Palace – Italian Garden Fountain

Location: Blenheim Palace

Client: Blenheim Estates

Building Period: 19th Century

Listed Status: Grade II

Construction Value: £50,000

Attributed to Waldo Storey, the Mermaid Fountain sits in the centre of the Italian Garden. At the time, the fountain had not been cleaned or repaired for many years resulting in a thick layer of limescale covering the waxed bronze sculptures and gilded elements of the fountain.

Nick Cox Architects were involved in commissioning a specialist conservator to produce a condition report and carry out cleaning and waxing trials to construct an approach to its cleaning and restoration. Works were then carried out to clean the fountain fully and re-wax the bronze and re-gild the dolphins, cherub wings, Venus’ cloak and crown.

Various other investigations have been carried out to understand the quality of the water and condition of the pool lining to try and reduce the rate of limescale and corrosion to the fountain. The fountain is drained, cleaned and re-gilded on an annual basis.

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