Video: Restoring the Historic Pebble Dash

Cynthia Silva, Director of Architectural Conservation at Tudor Place Historic House and Garden explains the process of preparing samples for future restoration of the pebble dash.

Conserving the Semicircular Bench

Above: HABS photo 1962

History of the Bench:
The semicircular bench is an early landscape feature at Tudor Place. A bench with this description was first mentioned in a letter from Anna-Maria Thornton (wife of William Thornton, architect of Tudor Place and of the first U. S. Capitol Building), in 1809 stating that “Mrs. [Peter was] very busy making a seat in a grove of locusts.”

In 1925 the bench underwent a major renovation where it was enlarged and its position adjusted to sit “at right angles to the path”. The original bricks were salvaged and used in the reconstruction and any additional bricks were used on the interior of the seat, hidden from view. The diamond of marble pavers that enliven the bench patio, were original to the Temple Portico and re-purposed after the 1914 renovation work which replaced the Portico floor.

The iron back to the bench, designed and fabricated by Jorss Iron Works, includes the monograms of Caroline and Armistead Peter 3rd.

Conservation:
The bench is currently undergoing conservation treatment to remove atmospheric soiling and biological growth from the seat and marble pavers. Broken pavers will be repaired and the tiles reset in a leveled bed to promote better drainage.

Prior to the start of work, a conditions assessment was completed in order to document any damage, loss, soiling, drainage or structural problems that should be addressed in the conservation treatment phase of the project. This included written and photographic documentation of the bench.

Treatment began on Wednesday with a general cleaning and application of an architectural anti-microbial solution. A schematic drawing of the pavers was completed prior to removal so that each tile could be re-installed in its original location. The tiles were then removed from the dell and brought to a work area to be individually cleaned in a detergent bath and gently scrubbed with soft, synthetic bristled brushes. Broken pavers will be pinned back together and cracks will be filled with grout. The repaired pavers will be set in a leveled bed of sand.

Before treatment (top), after treatment (bottom)