Construction gets underway on new Priory Park pavilion
News release dated 11 June 2007 about work starting to build the new pavilion in Priory Park as part of the restoration project.
Work is underway to build the new pavilion in Priory Park, Reigate as part of Reigate & Banstead Borough Council’s Priory Park restoration Project, backed by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
“The pavilion is central to the new park layout and will be located close to the new recreational facilities for convenience." (Cllr Tom Stoddart, Executive Member for Leisure & Wellbeing)
The pavilion, designed by internationally renowned French architect Dominique Perrault, will provide a café, toilets and information space for the park. It will also provide an office base a base for a park manager and the police.
Around the pavilion, the new Priory Lawns will replace the old tennis courts and other 20th Century features to provide a picnic lawn.
The large formal lawns will feature circles of mixed grassland and spring bulbs in the grass to echo the circular pavilion, and will be set within a simple path structure. The existing Oak tree will be retained and a new Cedar tree will be planted.
Artist's impression of the pavilion interior
Cllr Stoddart, Executive Member for Leisure and Wellbeing, said: "The restoration project will restore the historic landscape of Priory Park whilst incorporating modern-day leisure facilities, like the new pavilion.
"Its design is contemporary and unique, and we are proud that it will be the first building constructed in the UK designed by Dominique Perrault.
“The pavilion is central to the new park layout and will be located close to the new recreational facilities and children’s play area for convenience.
“Because of the history associated with Priory Park, before work could start on building the pavilion we were required to carry out archaeological investigations to find out if anything of archaeological value lies in the area.
"Due to the importance of the historical features uncovered by Surrey County Archaeologists in the course of their work we have modified the construction plans for the foundations of the pavilion to ensure that so far as possible the finds are preserved for the future. The amended plans have been approved by the HLF and the archaeologists.”
The old refreshment kiosk and toilet block were demolished in March to make way for the new recreation facilities. The kiosk operator has been given permission to operate an ice-cream van for refreshments during the summer months.
Archaeological finds
Among the archaeological discoveries are the hexagonal brick foundations of a dovecote and brick staddles to support the suspended floor of a rickstand for hay, the foundations of a large square building, another with a brick vaulted cellar and a well burnt hearth of greensand blocks.
Nearby was a substantial part of a large quernstone (mill stone), suggesting that baking and brewing might have occurred on the site. Some of the structures belong to the 17th and 18th Century, while others are thought to be later.
The earliest find is a deeply founded wall of greensand blocks but it cannot be directly dated. Its location and orientation suggest that it could be the outer precinct wall of the medieval priory.
Pavilion design
The Royal Institute of British Architects held a design competition for the Priory Park pavilion building in 2005, prior to the Council’s submission of its Stage II HLF bid.
Dominique Perrault Architecte’s winning design by was chosen from four short-listed entries by a panel of representatives from English Heritage; Reigate & Banstead Borough Council; the Reigate Society; Surrey County Council and a RIBA Architect Adviser.
The public’s comments on the short-listed designs were taken into account when selecting the final design.
Coming up...
Cllr Stoddart added: “The Priory Park restoration project is reaching an exciting stage and residents will start to see a lot more happening on site.
"In July work will start on building the exciting new leisure facilities including the water play area; children’s play area, which is based on a nautical theme; and new teenage area with skateboard and basketball facilities.
“Improvements to the lake are due to be completed in the next few weeks and later, the formal gardens around the Priory building will be restored and tree lined avenues will be re-instated to recreate the 18th century landscape.”
The Priory Park restoration project has received £4.2m backing from the Heritage Lottery Fund and commercial support from businesses Legal & General, Parador Properties, Canon (UK) Ltd, Watson Wyatt Worldwide, Fidelity International and Charles Church.
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council
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Reigate
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