Walmer Castle

English Heritage asked us to restore a Neoclassical chaise longue that belonged to William Pitt The Younger. It had been part of the library at Walmer Castle from the 1790s and had many repairs and alterations since.

First, we removed the later changes to the chaise to reinstate its original features.

We then repaired the frame, replacing the missing corner blocks and stretcher rails.

Preserving the 18th-century webbing and hessian on the arm and back, we re-webbed the seat and made a traditional horsehair-stuffed cushion and bolster. 

Finally, we re-covered the chaise in a 1790’s Indian-inspired fabric. This complemented the library’s original scarlet ‘moreen’ curtains.