Ralph Allens

Town House1992

Allen bought the lease of this house in 1727 and straight away began to improve it. Both the flat-topped facade to the left of the picture and the much more elaborate free-standing extension to the right were built for him, perhaps by premier Bath architect John Wood the Elder. The carved pediment, huge Corinthian columns, and big, round-headed window of the extension make up an inspired bit of infill, which you can see if you peer through the space between the adjoining structures.

I worked on the conservation of the decoration. A large amount of the decorative carving was exfoliating and I modelled  leaves and other decorative elements in lime stucco on ceramic armatures. I think this may have been a Nimbus or Strachey contract I can not remember now.