Charles Brooking

Major rescue at The Guildhall School

of Music, John Carpenter Street,

London EC4, City of London School,

Victoria Embankment, London and a

rather Swiss style splat baluster

charles brooking

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 from The City of London School on the Victoria Embankment, London ?

Charles Brooking : Yes, I rescued sash windows, architraves and a fire grate from the City of London School.

Surveyor : Did you rescue any architectural detailing items from Jermyn Street , SW1?

Charles Brooking : Yes, I rescued a wonderful early 18th Century staircase from Jermyn Street . It was from a building that wasn't Listed 207 Jermyn Street, London . SW1, built 1730's to 40's (the building was originally put up about 1680, then reworked in about 1740); it was a building that had been re-fronted in the 30's and the staircase was, incredible.

Surveyor : Did you rescue any other staircases in London ?  

Charles Brooking : Yes, I rescued several including an earlier staircase, possibly 1690/1710 from 25 Prescott Street, Whitechapel, London . E1 which was a very interesting rescue, where I could have got a complete 1780's door case, staircase!

Rescue defined

Charles Brooking defines a rescue as saving a window or door or staircase that would be doomed.

charles brooking

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 : How do you rescue a staircase?

Charles Brooking : Well, I usually just take a section to show enough of the treads but sometimes this is not possible.

Surveyor: Do you cut it by hand-saw?

Charles Brooking : Wood-saw, yes.

Surveyor : You use a hand-saw?

charles brooking

Charles Brooking : I do, yes it would be quite dangerous otherwise, because with a chainsaw you've only got to hit a big nail and the chain could fly off, it could be very dangerous.

Surveyor: I was thinking of a skill saw or something like that.

Charles Brooking : Well, I've always used a hand-saw and just bought one of these cheap DIY shop things, you can throw away. However you've got to be very careful with this when you're using mechanical ones, because if the chain breaks and hits a very big nail it can be lethal, I've rather fought shy of that, but used that for some time now.

charles brooking

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:

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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. We hope you found the article of use and if you have any experiences that you feel should be added to this article that would benefit others, or you feel that some of the information that we have put is wrong then please do not hesitate to contact us (we are only human). The contents of the website are for general information only and is not intended to be relied upon for specific or general decisions. Appropriate independent professional advice should be paid for before making such a decision.

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