Charles Brooking

 

Exhibition at the Building

Centre,

Store Street, London WC1

Charles Brooking is a fascinating and knowledgeable collector of architectural detail, The Brooking Collection of Architectural Detail, and as a Chartered Surveyor 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 Chartered 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.

Chartered Surveyor: Where was the exhibition located?

Charles Brooking : On the second floor of the Building Centre in Store Street, London WC1. 

Chartered Surveyor: Just off Tottenham Court Road?

 Charles Brooking : Yes, exactly. It was very successful and great fun; we had an opening where I was too nervous, stupidly, to give a speech, but Lord Montague was there and Hugh Casson apparently turned up, and some other people who've now sadly passed away. It was a very interesting experience where I met an amazing cross section of architects and people who were intrigued by my rescuing architectural details.

I was still being sponsored, just about, by the architects however that finished in 1986 which was a bit difficult because I was short of cash and it wasn't easy. I wasn't sure what to do as I needed money to get around and rescue things, attend meetings etc. I was still living at home, in a large house which was very convenient, very nice, and I was very lucky, but it wasn't easy, but I struggled on with my rescuing work. I did consultancy work which allowed me to actually manage to afford a driver who I employed to do pick up and bring back my pieces from architectural rescues in London which was quite expensive. 

In 1988 I had another exhibition at The Building Centre which was to be a general one and covered the whole collection which was again very successful. It was in January 1988 and it lasted three weeks gaining coverage on my rescuing work in every newspaper, it was amazing; The Telegraph, The Times, The Evening Standard, The Financial Times, Time Out, 01 For London too. The media coverage was amazing with almost everyday a picture of me appearing in the press; even neighbours started to take notice although rather patronisingly.  At last the Brooking Collection was on the map and hope for a permanent home for the growing collection grew.

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.

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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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