Crick Smith
Etwall Almshouses: Memorial Arch
Etwall Almshouses were founded by Sir John Port, who left land and money in his Will dated 1556 for the foundation of a 'hospital' and 'school for the poor'. The almshouses were originally built for six residents, but this was increased to twelve in 1622. The school became the famous Repton School.
The courtyard was added in 1681, and The Memorial Archway contains the arms of the Gerrard, Hastings and Stanhope families, into which Sir John's daughters had married.
The armorial shields were last painted in the 1970s using modern oil paints. This scheme had become very faded and worn, and the paint was peeling in some areas. Analysis of the paint layers proved that during previous redecoration there had been changes in the allocation of colour to the shields.
As part of the proposal for the redecoration of the painted armorial shields, it was a specification of The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) that lead paint should be used. As the use of lead paints is strictly regulated, this required a Department of the Environment declaration to be completed. The armorials when then repainted and gilded in a more sympathetic decorative scheme.
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