Latest news with #Gothicarchitecture
RNZ News
20-07-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Couple's church restoration gets historic places nod
Michael Simpson working on the exterior of the Kakanui Church in Otago, which has now been granted a Category 1 heritage listing. Photo: Supplied/ Michael Simpson & Anna Miles A Waitaki couple's six-year passion project to restore a landmark building has paid off, with the former Kakanui Church granted a top-tier heritage listing. The 155-year old Gothic-style building in Otago was one of two surviving Presbyterian timber churches in New Zealand designed by prominent Scottish architect Robert Arthur Lawson. Heritage New Zealand this month recognised it as a Category 1 historic place with "special or outstanding historical or cultural significance." Michael Simpson said it had descended into "pretty bad shape" by the time he and his wife Anna Miles bought it in 2019. "The parish church had battled for a few years because they had too many buildings and not enough money to do it up ... there was just a lot of deferred maintenance and like a lot of old buildings, it was hard to keep up with," he said. "We thought, well, we can give it a crack. As sad as it looks ... I like doing up old wooden buildings. It didn't look too scary to me. It scared off a lot of other people. It probably should have really." A Christmas carols event held in the Kakanui Church last year. Photo: Supplied/ Michael Simpson & Anna Miles Simpson said they had worked to restore it "with no time frame", starting with repairing rotten wood in the sub-floor, and restoring the windows. They gave the inside a fresh coat of paint, and more recently the couple turned their focus to the exterior, where they were stripping, refitting and painting the weatherboards. "We're loving how it's starting to look," Simpson said. Photo: Supplied/ Michael Simpson & Anna Miles The couple were also renovating two outbuildings - the Workers' Hut and Sunday School. Simpson said locals had taken a keen interest in the project. "The community was so happy that we were trying to save it. It's been amazing. We never sort of expected that," he said. "We have the doors open when we're down there and anyone that wants to come in and have a look ... can do that. It's just been really nice to share it." A fresh coat of paint on one side of the Kakanui Church, during the restoration. Photo: Supplied/ Michael Simpson & Anna Miles Once the building was weather-tight and stable, Simpson said they had hosted a wedding, market days and gigs in the church. They hoped to keep using it as a community hub. "It's just such a thrill having life in the building and seeing people enjoy it," Simpson said. Heritage New Zealand heritage assessment advisor Alison Breese described the church as having "outstanding aesthetic, architectural and historic significance." "It's been a pleasure seeing the love and hard mahi the owners have put into it," she said. Simpson said the restoration wasn't yet complete, but he and Miles were thrilled to have the building formally acknowledged and protected. "All we wanted to do, with our airy fairy plans, was restore the building as well as [possibly] to give it a life after us. This justifies that feeling, and just adds another sort of string to the bow, recognising it's worth saving," he said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Discover the magical castle just 2 hours from London that's like a Disney set
Looking for a great day out that the whole family will enjoy? Then look no further, as this is the perfect place to visit. Just a two-hour drive from London, Arundel Castle is easy to reach but looks straight out of a Disney movie. You can also take the train from Victoria Station to Arundel town, which is just a 20-minute walk from the castle. Perfect for children and adults, Arundel Castle has lots to explore and will keep everyone entertained. You can find out more about Arundel Castle via the website. The Arundel Castle website shares that the estate's story begins in 1067 with the grand building still retaining many of its original features, including the Norman Keep. During the late 1800s, the castle was nearly all rebuilt to transform it into a breathtaking Gothic style home, which is said to "be one of the great works of Victorian England". Along with the castle itself, the gardens are also not to be missed, with the English Rose Garden very popular among visitors. The garden is filled with an array of flowers, including Penelope Lively, Young Lycidas, Emily Bronte, Oliver Austin, Desdemona, Wild Edric and Shropshire Lad. The Arundel Castle shares that the gardens and landscapes are "beautiful", adding: "Over the last 20 years the gardens have been transformed, led by the Castle's renowned and highly respected Head Gardener Martin Duncan, whose personal achievement was recognised in 2018 with the award of the Kew Guild Medal." The castle also hosts a range of events throughout the year, including the Medieval Festival Weekend and Medieval Jousting Tournament. Arundel Castle is open from April 1 to November 2 in 2025, with the gardens and castle open daily except on Mondays. There is a range of tickets depending on what you want to see, ranging from £30 per adult to see everything, or £12.50 for a child. You can book tickets via the Arundel Castle website. On the online review site, Tripadvisor, Arundel Castle has a rating of 4.6/5 from more than 3,600 reviews. Recommended Reading Arundel: Historic market town 90 minutes from south London Why you should visit Hever Castle as a day trip from London Discover the 'beautiful' National Trust gem in London One guest said: "An experience not to be missed. Stunning grounds and gardens, breathtaking. The history of the castle was amazing, and the rooms were fantastic. Well worth the money." Another guest said: "It was the second time I have visited the gardens at Arundel Castle and they were just as spectacularly beautiful." A third happy guest wrote: "The gardens are a true masterpiece. The colourful splendour of the flowers is just breathtaking. The interior of the castle is an example of classic English aristocratic elegance. A must-visit!"
