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Crich photos

Started by chriskingbees, Jun 26, 2009, 01:40 pm

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galacticprobe

Feb 03, 2012, 07:23 am #90 Last Edit: Feb 03, 2012, 07:31 am by galacticprobe
I don't think there was much more holding the thing upright so they needed those supports. Remember the bulk of the box was back at the studio at the time, so they had to hold up this jiggery rig somehow.

Dino.
"What's wrong with being childish?! I like being childish." -3rd Doctor, "Terror of the Autons"

kiwidoc

Speaking of the Crich box, I was contacted a while ago by the firm which carried out the repair on this and another box (see message below).  They've offered to answer any questions we have - anyone have a niggling 'must-ask'?

=========================================================

> I was looking on your website and thought you may be interested to know that
> our company, Ivor Parnham Building Services Limited  have carried out
> concrete repair/restoration works to two Mk II type Police Boxes  to date.
> Our website is www.ivorparnham.co.uk.

>
> The first was for The Tramway Museum Society at Crich in 2005

>
> The second was on Somerton Avenue in Newport Gwent in 2010.

>
> I wondering if our contact details may be useful - in the event that someone
> was looking for restoration/concrete repairs to Police Boxes in the future.
>


Thank you for your email, it was nice to get a reply so quickly.

The reason for us getting involved with the restoration of the police boxes
initially is that our company specialises in structural and concrete repairs
including those to historic and listed buildings .
We were approached by the Civil Defence and Emergency Service Preservation
Trust (CDESPT) in Airdrie, Scotland  in June 2004 asking if we would be
interested in the restoration and repairs  to the Police Box at Crich.

It was a very exciting and unusual project with a considerable amount of
research and discussion with the CDESPT and local authority, Amber Valley
Borough Council, taking place before any work could be carried out, due to
the listed status of the building.

The works commenced in August 2005 and were completed by the end of
September 2005.

Following on from that we contacted Newport City Council in Wales about the
Alway Police Box in Somerton Avenue, Newport which was in a very poor and
dangerous condition.  We were given the go ahead to carry out the
restoration and repairs in August 2010"

starcross

Quote from: kiwidoc on Feb 13, 2012, 12:36 am
Speaking of the Crich box, I was contacted a while ago by the firm which carried out the repair on this and another box (see message below).  They've offered to answer any questions we have - anyone have a niggling 'must-ask'?


Here is the obvious questions:
What blueprints or historical photos did they dig up during the research phase of the project?
Are they able to provide copies of any historical photographs or blueprints they may have on file.

Especially the Newport Box, I've only found a single photo of the boxes in the old days.
I made my own blueprints when I couldn't find any.
I'd be very interested to hear what they turned up before restoring that particular Box, no matter what they can pass along.

cheers,

~Starcross

galacticprobe

Feb 13, 2012, 07:08 am #93 Last Edit: Feb 13, 2012, 07:09 am by galacticprobe
Quote from: kiwidoc on Feb 13, 2012, 12:36 am
Speaking of the Crich box, I was contacted a while ago by the firm which carried out the repair on this and another box (see message below).  They've offered to answer any questions we have - anyone have a niggling 'must-ask'?


Another (somewhat obvious) question is about the door. It's smooth on the outside and has the stiles on the inside (the opposite of just about every other box seen in period photos). Was that door ever turned around at some point - possibly by accident during a repair/replacement - being remounted wrong way round?

Dino.
"What's wrong with being childish?! I like being childish." -3rd Doctor, "Terror of the Autons"

lorisarvendu

I know everyone would like to see the door hung the "right way round", as it offends our sensibilities to see it like that, but it would be interesting if someone found a photo of the box in its original location...with the door hung the same way.

Technically the box would then be accurate and should be left that way.

kiwidoc

I can ask but I'd suggest that it's quite likely the firm just went to see what was there and how to patch it up rather than carrying out much research but I'd love to find out I'm wrong!

Cheers, Glen

Quote from: galacticprobe on Feb 13, 2012, 07:08 am

Another (somewhat obvious) question is about the door. It's smooth on the outside and has the stiles on the inside (the opposite of just about every other box seen in period photos). Was that door ever turned around at some point - possibly by accident during a repair/replacement - being remounted wrong way round?

Dino.

Mark

Sounds interesting.

I'll be happy with any information they wish to part with.

The way I figured was they treated the concrete with some sort of chemical and then rebuilt missing bits with new concrete. Wonder if they took any pictures?

galacticprobe

Feb 14, 2012, 08:52 am #97 Last Edit: Feb 14, 2012, 08:52 am by galacticprobe
Quote from: lorisarvendu on Feb 13, 2012, 01:46 pm
I know everyone would like to see the door hung the "right way round", as it offends our sensibilities to see it like that, but it would be interesting if someone found a photo of the box in its original location...with the door hung the same way.

Technically the box would then be accurate and should be left that way.


It's mainly my curiosity: was the door always like that, or if it was turned around, when (general timeframe) did it happen? I'm sure those doors were replaced at times, and it would be very interesting to learn more about the door on this box, and the box itself.

Dino.
"What's wrong with being childish?! I like being childish." -3rd Doctor, "Terror of the Autons"

fedora

I think the door was always the wrong way round  . i had seen it on an art show years ago and the door was hung on the hinges backwards.
But it was just a police box !

hb88banzai

Sep 29, 2012, 11:39 am #99 Last Edit: Sep 29, 2012, 11:44 am by hb88banzai
An old photo of the Crich Box that is on the Mary Evans site --

Early Crich in Snow-supposedly c1950s on street per Mary Evans.JPG

They claim it is a photo of a Police Box on the London streets from the 1950's, but it is clearly the Crich Box in its present location, but before they put it on the new base. Can't trust dates on these sites, unfortunately.

Cool photo of a snow covered Box, nonetheless.

DoctorWho8

That'd make a lovely Christmas picture.  Makes it feel vintage.
Bill "the Doctor" Rudoff

mantamatt

Hi Tardis builders,

I went to Crich this week expecting the new lighter blue paint job and was surprised to see it in the stages of another repaint! And it will please traditionalists that its being repainted in a lovely deep royal blue colour, it was in a half painted state when I got there and you can see the grey undercoat used


Having only last seen it when it was suffering from concrete cancer and a fair bit of the box had disintegrated, I though it looked pretty good.

2014-07-25 14.51.19.jpg2014-07-25 14.51.50.jpg2014-07-25 14.52.08.jpg

I also revisited Crich after the box has been totally repainted, I'll add these pics up when I get the chance

mantamatt

Some more photos of it half painted
DSCF1554.jpg
DSCF1540.jpg
And a week later
DSCF1762.jpg
DSCF1764.jpg
DSCF1767.jpg
DSCF1768.jpg
(Sorry about the picture sizes)

lorisarvendu

That is the bizz.  Such a nicer colour.  Takes me back to when there was one just like it in Colindale where I lived.

Volpone

Thanks.  Seeing photos from a day that it is not raining, they got the color bang-on.  (It looked too dark in another photo.)
"My dear Litefoot, I've got a lantern and a pair of waders, and possibly the most fearsome piece of hand artillery in all England. What could possibly go wrong?"
-The Doctor.