Royal secret revealed during Huddersfield university building revamp
Wallpaper from the 1880s has been rediscovered during a revamp of the Ramsden Building - and historians think it has a royal connection
A “really special” royal discovery has been made in Huddersfield as the refurbishment of the University’s Ramsden Building gets underway.
Henry Boot Construction, which is renovating the Victorian-era property which faces onto Queensgate, made a surprising finding as they stripped back almost 150 years of paint and plaster. In a corner of a small office they uncovered colourful, hand-painted, patterned wallpaper, which had been obscured since the 1880s.
Experts from the University of Huddersfield’s Heritage Quay have shared the significance of this discovery. Dr Becky Bowd, University Archivist said: “The building opened in 1883 with a Fine Art and Industrial Exhibition, showcasing Huddersfield’s technical and creative capabilities to paying audiences. We know the room was decorated by a local firm from the exhibition guide but the distinctive repeating pattern of a crown and emblem were not mentioned.
“A deep dive in the archives uncovered a newspaper article which mentioned that the room was set aside for the VIP who opened the building: the Duke of Somerset. We think that the wallpaper was created just for him, and then covered up soon afterwards when it became a classroom.
“The emblem is the garter star from the Order of the Garter. The Duke had been appointed a Knight of the Garter in 1862, so very few people could use that emblem and the room was also set aside for his use if he ever needed it. It’s likely that the team from Henry Boot Construction were the first people to see it for over a century.”
The University has brought in Louise Drover, a historic wallpaper conservation expert who has appeared on TV shows Treasures of the National Trust and The Repair Shop, who had never seen anything quite like it.
“This building holds many high-quality original features, reflecting the knowledge, skills and wealth of the industrial age,” said Louise. “Whilst the bones often survive, the softer furnishings and opulent touches usually disappear over time. So it’s a real thrill to find a hidden part of that history and be able to preserve and stabilise it for generations to come.
“I am still quite shocked at what we found, and at how difficult it was to remove the wallpaper. I have never come across anything like it. When papering the room for the Duke they may have used a starch-based paste potentially with animal glue added to it to improve its strength. It certainly felt like it, because it was difficult to remove – so much so that we decided it was best to leave most of it in place, although we removed a small section for the university’s archive. The wallpaper is really special and very unusual.”
Since works began, the Ramsden Building has proved to be a historical treasure trove, with old maps and paintings found on the top of false ceilings, and other original fixtures and fittings hidden by later additions. Some of these elements are also being preserved as part of the restoration project.
Once renovations are completed next year, the building will house an International Study Centre, offices, meeting rooms and classrooms on the ground floor, and the International Office and space for postgraduate research on the first floor. The second floor will boast a PC lab and events space.