St Giles House - South Terrace, Wimborne St Giles c.1970 (1)

Image: © Ronald Searle Taken: Unknown

Appearances can be deceptive, as this mid-C17 house was in decline before this photo was taken, and by the time that restoration was commenced in 2010 was in a semi-ruinous state, and on the English Heritage "Buildings at Risk" register. During the years of neglect, and later during the 1970s, some demolition occurred as well as the destructive removal of 1820s render that badly damaged much of the brickwork. This render was evidently still in-situ when this photo was taken, as were substantial parts of the house that later underwent demolition. Looking at post-restoration pictures, it is the exposed brickwork (having since undergone significant repair) that is the most remarkable, the house now looking very much as it was in earlier times. It's not all good news however, as further comparisons reveal that some features of the South Terrace visible in this photo have since been lost. A case in point is the balustraded tower in the centre that is somewhat truncated today and without its balustrade! In addition, possibly the whole of the west wing extant here at this time has also gone: https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3582243 For photos of the restoration of the exterior in progress during 2012 see: https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2964947 Image

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