IT WAS comforting to see Kendal town hall undergoing renovation work recently to continue the up-keep and preservation of its fabric for the future benefit of the town.
Similar restoration work was carried out about 20 years ago when the gold leaf on the fretwork of the clock faces was re-applied (by a local signwriter craftsman), so it is saddening to see that this has been painted over - taking away the brilliant shine on the fretworks that previously existed, particularly in bright light and sunshine.
Only a year or two ago, I did a hand-drawing showing the full west facing façade of the town hall with four roundels (representing the three clock faces and one blank) in which, I incorporated artistic representation of details relevant to the town hall.
On my drawing I repeated the gilding of the fretworks with gold leaf, applied on to a base layer and then burnished (a technique used on ancient manuscripts) - BUT I will not be painting them over.
Gold leaf will always outlast paint.
Such drawings, with an architectural bias, I am now doing through my ARTchitecture as a further stage since retirement from my career as an architect.
Terry Johnson
Kendal
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