22 October 2007
The award recognises the extensive restoration work that took place at the palace, the countryside retreat of King George III and his family, during its 10-year, £6.6 million conservation and restoration project by the charity Historic Royal Palaces. Kew Palace was one of only eleven buildings on the short-list for the award, and the only contender in London.
Simon Pott, Chairman of Judges, says: “This restoration has been done with great care and attention to detail, involving extensive research. The visitor is able to enjoy the history and atmosphere of this wonderful place, and can follow signposts to extra information in the restoration. Historic Royal Palaces are custodian of some of our finest buildings, and this is an outstanding example of their work carried out over a 10 year repair project.”
The Building Conservation Award honours conservation in all its forms and covers renovation or conversion to new or original use. The judges paid particular attention to the construction materials and techniques used, conservation achievements, background research undertaken and the project’s long-term prospects. Regarded as the ‘Oscars’ of the built and natural environment, the RICS Awards recognise excellence, value for money and a commitment to sustainability.
Faithfully presented as King George III and his family would have known it in the early 1800s, Kew Palace was the setting for many personal family dramas that made history. The palace is well known as sanctuary for George III during his bouts of illness, presumed as ‘madness’ but now known to have been porphyria. Queen Charlotte, his devoted wife, spent her last days at ‘dear Kew’ before she passed away in her bedroom at Kew Palace. And two of their sons, including the Duke of Kent, father to the future Queen Victoria, were married in the first floor Drawing Room. The palace made royal history again when it hosted the private 80th Birthday party of HM The Queen in April 2006 just days before it was reopened to the public.
Kew Palace closes after its 2007 season on Sunday 28 October, so this week is the last chance to see the award-winning palace before it closes for winter.
