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King Charles III

Prince Charles to host reception supporting the campaign to save studio and house of eminent Victorian artist

The Prince of Wales will host a Reception in support of the charity The Limnerslease Project Appeal on 28 January at Clarence House.

The Limnerslease Project purpose is to save, conserve and renovate public access to Limnerslease.

Prince Charles first visited Limnerslease in May 2011, becoming Patron of the appeal the following September.

In 2001, Lady Angela Nevill, member of the Limnerslease Project Appeal Committee, said the support of The Prince would “provide tremendous inspiration” for the campaign.

Located in the village in the village of Compton, Surrey, Limnerslease is the studio and house of celebrated Victorian artist George Frederic Watts OM RA (1817 – 1904). Built between 1890 and 1891, Limnerslease is a Grade II-listed Limnerslease Arts & Crafts style building.

Limnerslease interior

Limnerslease interior

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has appropriated a £2.4 million grant to fund Saving the Watts Studios, the £5m first phase of the Limnerslease Project.

Limnerslease, the only remaining artist’s house and studio designed by Ernest George, famed Arts and Crafts architect and tutor to British architect master Sir Edwin Landseer Luytens, has been in private ownership since 1938. The property was divided and updated leading to many of the original features being lost.

Both parts of Limnerslease are now presented for sale, allowing the Watts Gallery Trust a-lifetime the opportunity to refurbish the amazing achievement and heritage of G.F. and his wife, the artist Mary Watts.

The project will generate a centre of excellence for acquiring skills in conservation, art, craft and design. It will provide six apprenticeships in heritage collections, learning, and estate management as well as visitor services. The goal is for Watts Studios to open to the public in summer 2015.

The second phase of The Limnerslease Project is to preserve the rest of the house.

Charles is ardent supporter of to save and restore heritage buildings, He oversees his own Regeneration Trust, formed in 2006 following the merger of two of his older charities, Regeneration Through Heritage and the Phoenix Trust.

“Personally I am not prepared to sit back and see this legacy of historic buildings needlessly squandered; especially as with a little imagination, they can become real community assets to their local communities, offering job opportunities, and focus for local regeneration schemes,” Charles noted.

Featured photo credit: Korona Lacasse via photopin cc

Photo credit: FlickrDelusions via photopin cc