Kenilworth Castle

Elizabethan Garden2009

English Heritage has recently re-created one of the greatest gardens of the Elizabethan age.

The original was built by Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, in honour of Queen Elizabeth’s visit in 1575.

The contractor had made a good attempt to match the colour of the local stone. However, the initial coat of paint had produced an unfortunate effect and the painted green oak looked like plastic.

Patrick Baty of Papers and Paints was asked to help.

The situation was worse where the pinky-brown was juxtaposed with the green of the grass. The phenomenon known as Complementary Contrast caused the balustrade

to look too red.

Measurements were taken from all variations of the stone – old and new – and boards painted up.

The best colour was selected for further trials. The colour had to work with the new stone of the Aviary

and the old stone of the Castle.

Four obelisks were painted to resemble porphyry

A red base coat was applied on top of a white undercoat

This shows the three stages of the porphyry

The newly-carved fountain is being assembled

The top of the globe is being lowered into position

The finished work

The corrected colour on the balustrade

The original colour

The completed garden (1)

The completed garden (2)

The completed garden (3)

The corrected colour against the old castle walls

The bejewelled Aviary in its corrected colour

The completed garden (4)

The completed garden (5)

A view from the old Castle (1)

A view from the old Castle (2)

For more information on what we do:

www.papers-paints.co.uk

By Appointment toHer Majesty The Queen

Architectural Paint SpecialistsPapers and Paints Ltd