Charles Brooking
Major rescue at Huntley Street,
London WC1
Charles Brooking is a fascinating and knowledgeable collector of architectural detail, The Brooking Collection of Architectural Detail, and as Surveyors we find his lifelong quest to collect British building details unique, informative and valuable and a collection that must be kept intact for years to come. If you need help and advice with regard to building surveys, structural surveys, structural reports, engineers reports, specific defects report, dilapidations or any other property matters please free phone 0800 298 5424.
The following is one of a series of interviews with Charles Brooking, Historic and Listed Buildings Detail Expert, The Brooking Collection of Architectural Detail and a Surveyor where we have recorded his comments and various aspects that have affected windows and doors and other collectibles. The interviews outline how his collection started and built over the years and gives an insight into the amazing architectural features housed in his fine collection.
Surveyor: Did you rescue any architectural detailing items in Huntley Street, London WC1?
Charles Brooking: Yes, I rescued items in central London, in the Pitts Road area. Another rescue was earlier in 1976/77 which was a front door of a 1790 building which looked much older with HL Hinges from Huntley Street.
Rescue defined
Charles Brooking defines a rescue as saving a window or door or staircase that would be doomed.
Charles Brooking was a pioneer in the rescue of architectural detailing as many years ago it was very much considered a strange and an unusual past time to want to rescue old parts of buildings with everything new and shiny being so important.
Surveyor: HL Hinges?
Charles Brooking :
HL Hinges Defined
HL Hinges which are basically as they describe, a H and an L with the L bit going across the top of the door to support the door and the H bit is fixed on the frame. The H down stroke gives the door stability. The cross bar running across stops the door dropping, that's one of the theories, it runs across the top rail of the door and then you've got an L upside down mounted on the door. These were quite common I suppose from the late 17th century right up until the 1790's and the 1810's and a bit later in some places.
The other rescues were, four of them in Fitzroy Square, London W1, which was designed by Adam in the early 1790s where I was lucky enough to rescue from several properties in the Georgian group.
If you found this article on The Brooking Collection of Architectural Detail interesting you may also be interested in the following articles on our website
Structural surveys
Structural reports
Structural cracking
Wall issues
References:
TheBrookingCollection.com
DartfordArchive.org.uk
IHBC.org.uk
ProjectBook.co.uk
Independent Surveyors
If you truly do want an independent expert opinion from a surveyor with regard to building surveys, structural surveys, structural reports, engineers reports, specific defects report, dilapidations or any other property matters please contact 0800 298 5424 for a surveyor to give you a call back.
Commercial Property Surveyors
If you have a commercial property, be it leasehold or freehold, then you may wish to look at our Dilapidations Website at www.DilapsHelp.com and for Disputes go to our Disputes Help site www.DisputesHelp.com.
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