One of Britain’s favourite historic estates, Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, is in the midst of a landmark Masterplan of restoration and development to help protect and sustain its history and heritage.
Home of the Duke and Duchess of Derbyshire, the project brings together hundreds of specialists, engineers and artisans – and Yorkshire based Mitton Mechanical Services, one of the UK’s foremost building services specialists on important refurbishment contracts, called in Watkinson’s for a particularly tricky aspect of the project.
Antiques
Leon Bell, specialist project manager for Watkinsons, says the brief was to deliver and lift three new baths to the second and third floors of Chatsworth as part of Mitton’s responsibilities for plumbing, installation of sanitary appliances and mechanical installation.
But, says Leon, these were no ordinary baths:-
“The three baths are renovated porcelain antique baths, specially refired for this job; each weighing 400kg and with a value of over £10,000 each.”
“An unusual job carrying a big responsibility!” commented Leon.
Precision
Collecting the delicate cargo from their point of entry into the UK, Watkinson’s placed each bath into a specialist bespoke tilt frame made by Watkinson’s and able to rotate 360°.
“We knew the baths would have to be lifted to the upstairs quarters vertically” says Leon “and such was the precision of the operation it took our four man team three days to get them into position. A very successful, satisfying outcome and with everyone happy with our solution and service!”