Stowe House has completed the final phase of its six-year North Hall restoration with the installation of nine newly commissioned busts, recreating the room’s classical grandeur for the first time since the 19th century.
Stowe House has completed the final phase of its six-year North Hall restoration with the installation of nine newly commissioned busts, recreating the room’s classical grandeur for the first time since the 19th century. Stowe House is celebrating the completed restoration of its grand North Hall, a spectacular reception room first designed in the 1730s by William Kent.
As the final touch to a six-year, £75,000 restoration, nine classical busts have been installed, reinstating the Hall’s original splendour for visitors to enjoy for the first time in over two centuries.
The project was made possible thanks to the generosity of two former pupils (Old Stoics), whose support allowed the Stowe House Preservation Trust to commission specialist conservation teams to recreate the missing sculptures.
Each bust, representing Roman emperors, notable figures from antiquity, and the goddess Juno, was carefully researched to ensure historical accuracy. Working from surviving examples in collections across the UK, the conservation teams used a combination of 3D scanning, scaled printing, and traditional casting to recreate each piece in stunning detail.
The final finishes were hand-applied to mimic antique marble and bronze, ensuring the busts blend seamlessly with the Hall’s authentic 18th-century style.
René Rice of Cliveden Conservation said, “It has been a pleasure to work with Stowe House Preservation Trust on recreating these busts. Seeing them back in place completes the North Hall’s decorative scheme and restores a key part of Stowe’s history.”
The busts are now on display to visitors during Stowe House’s open days and guided tours, marking the triumphant conclusion of a major restoration project that has brought the Hall back to its former Glory.
Stowe House Preservation Trust is an independent charity dedicated to restoring and caring for this extraordinary piece of Britain’s heritage. One-off or monthly donations can be made to help preserve Stowe House for future generations. They can also be made in celebration or in memory of a loved one; every contribution makes a real difference.
