Taylor’s Lodge, Gunton Park
Plans to recreate a tiny North Norfolk landmark, which sits within Grade II* listed Gunton Park estate, have been submitted to North Norfolk District Council (NNDC).
Daniel Connal Partnership has been working with landowner, Mr Kit Martin, together with Adam Architecture on plans to recreate Taylor’s Lodge and bring it back into use to contribute to the future sustainability of the Gunton Park estate.
This project is part of the ongoing restoration of Gunton Park, which aims to re-create the historic parkland, and includes re-building important structures which have become derelict or long since disappeared.
Taylor’s Lodge sits in an area of the park that was devised by William Sawtry Gilpin, a renowned 19th century landscape architect. Gilpin believed landscapes should be romantic and picturesque, featuring small buildings, such as Taylor’s Lodge, to ‘humanise’ the setting and create visual interest.
Strategically positioned in the landscape, Taylor’s Lodge, which dates from between 1825 and 1835, is attributed to John Adey and George Stanley Repton, the architect sons of the landscaper Humphry Repton. They specialised in the design of parkland buildings, cottages and lodges. The Lodge was home to Gunton Park’s head gardener, Mr Taylor.
All that currently remains of the original tiny building is a brick chimney stack and some brickwork around it’s footprint. Adam Architecture, award-winning architects and specialists in classical and traditional design have developed plans and elevations for the re-build from a site survey of the ruin, using photographs and their knowledge of historic design to arrive at an accurate interpretation of the building for reconstruction on its existing footprint using traditional & sustainable materials.
The re-created lodge will include an area to display historical maps, prints and photographs relating to the story of the surrounding landscape.
If plans are approved, it is envisaged that the lodge will become a bijoux and romantic one bedroom holiday cottage contributing to the overall sustainability of the Gunton Park estate.