Sydmonton Court
Newbury, Berkshire
- Building Owner: Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Architect: Rod Hackney
- Main Contractor: Boshers (Cholsey) Limited
- Masonry Fixer: AF Jones Stonemasons
- Material: Portland Bowers Basebed and Bath Stoke Ground
AF Jones approached Albion Stone Quarries to supply Bowers Basebed for internal and external works to a prestigious Grade II country manor house. The identity of the owner was kept secret until the project was completed.
Graham Jones of AF Jones visited Albion Stone's works to view the materials and to select Bowers Basebed for an internal cantilever staircase.
The cantilever staircase was precision manufactured at Albion's Factory at Portland prior to being professionally installed by AF Jones with striking results.
The external works were for a new three storey entrance in the West Wing. Bowers Basebed was used to frame the doorway in the form of heavily ribbed piers with vaulted fans which supported the first floor Portland Stone Balcony.
The glazed double doors onto the balcony were framed by Ogee sectioned Portland Stone jambs and mullions, and a carved ashlar head with an intersecting geometric lancet relief connecting to the based of the Millais Arch.
The Millias Arch is 2.8 metres by 2.2 metres and took 2,500 hours to carve from a 20 tonne piece of Bowers Basebed which was specially selected due to the size of the block. The design of the carving was taken from a John Everett Millais design for a Gothic Window dating back to 1853. Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber purchased the drawing for the design in 1974 and was keen to see it brought to life in stone.
The project was completed in December 1994 and was Highly Commended for Craftmanship in the Natural Stone Awards in 1995.