Painshill Park – Bridge & Temple Works

Project Overview

Hockley & Dawson have been closely involved with Painshill Park Trust in providing structural advice for the conservation key features within the historic landscape, including the Five Arch Bridge and the Temple of Bacchus.

Site Context

Set within a Grade I listed landscape, all works at Painshill demanded a highly sensitive approach that respected the park’s historical integrity, visual character, and natural setting. The site had suffered extensive deterioration over time, and conservation efforts were guided by archival research, historic paintings, and the original design intent of Hamilton’s picturesque vision.

Key Structural Interventions

Five Arch Bridge
• Hockley & Dawson designed the new Five Arch Bridge to replicate a long-lost original feature built by Hamilton.
• The structure was formed in in-situ reinforced concrete, concealed with hand-formed decorative panels cast onsite to emulate the stonework and character of the 18th-century design.
• Foundations included pile-supported reinforced concrete caps to accommodate ground conditions and long-term stability.
• Reinforced parapets were also incorporated for both aesthetic accuracy and modern safety compliance.

Temple of Bacchus
• Originally constructed in 1762 to house Hamilton’s Roman statue collection, the Temple of Bacchus underwent significant structural repairs.
• In 2017, Hockley & Dawson worked alongside Cliveden Conservation to complete repairs to the fabric of the temple, addressing both its internal and external condition while retaining its architectural authenticity.

Additional Conservation Work
• Hockley & Dawson previously contributed to earlier phases of restoration at Painshill, including work on the Gothic Tower, Ruined Abbey, and Gothic Temple.
• The firm also designed the original timber Woollett Bridge (based on a painting and Palladian principles), which was later replaced with a steel structure after repeated flood damage in 2019 and 2020.
• We also supported restoration of the Grotto structure, including the ceiling framework and support for the hand-sculpted stalactites.

Summary

Hockley & Dawson’s work at Painshill Park illustrates our long-standing commitment to heritage conservation through structurally sound and historically informed interventions.

Whether reconstructing lost structures like the Five Arch Bridge or carefully stabilising delicate 18th-century fabric such as the Temple of Bacchus, our approach combines technical precision with deep respect for the cultural landscape.

Painshill continues to inspire as a restored masterpiece of garden design — and we’re proud to have played a part in bringing it back to life.