Restore The Berstrete Gates Panel
Donation protected
Restoration of Berstrete Gates Pub Sign
The Bracondale Residents’ Association in cooperation with The Norwich Society
Plans are being made to restore and conserve a striking local landmark on Ber Street in Norwich. The mural panel is on the exterior of the Berstrete Gates Public House. It depicts the Ber Street gates and part of the city walls as they were around 1720.
The panel is prominent and clearly visible from the south eastern approach to the City on the inner ring road at the intersection of Bracondale, Queens Road, Ber Street and City Road. It was installed in 1937 and is one of a series of artworks by John Moray-Smith, who worked in Norwich from the early 1930’s until his death in 1958. The Norwich Society has previously commissioned the restoration of another of his panels, on the Coachmakers Arms in St Stevens Road, where it is now an attractive part of the street scene, and the Norwich Panorama, recently displayed in the Forum. His works are the subject of a booklet published by the Norwich Society in 2017.
The Ber Street panel is important both historically and artistically. It is now badly faded, in poor condition and without expert treatment will deteriorate further and be lost. Now, the Bracondale Residents’ Association, working with the Norwich Society, hope to commission the necessary restoration works. The owner and the landlord of the Berstrete Gates are helpfully co-operating to enable this important work to be done.
The panel has recently been inspected by Tom Humphrey of the Fairhurst Gallery, the artist who was responsible for the spectacular restorations of the Coachmakers Arms panel and the Norwich Panorama. He estimates the cost of this restoration to be around £5000.
The Association is now raising funds to commission this project and are looking for contributions from interested local bodies and individuals.
The Bracondale Residents’ Association in cooperation with The Norwich Society
Plans are being made to restore and conserve a striking local landmark on Ber Street in Norwich. The mural panel is on the exterior of the Berstrete Gates Public House. It depicts the Ber Street gates and part of the city walls as they were around 1720.
The panel is prominent and clearly visible from the south eastern approach to the City on the inner ring road at the intersection of Bracondale, Queens Road, Ber Street and City Road. It was installed in 1937 and is one of a series of artworks by John Moray-Smith, who worked in Norwich from the early 1930’s until his death in 1958. The Norwich Society has previously commissioned the restoration of another of his panels, on the Coachmakers Arms in St Stevens Road, where it is now an attractive part of the street scene, and the Norwich Panorama, recently displayed in the Forum. His works are the subject of a booklet published by the Norwich Society in 2017.
The Ber Street panel is important both historically and artistically. It is now badly faded, in poor condition and without expert treatment will deteriorate further and be lost. Now, the Bracondale Residents’ Association, working with the Norwich Society, hope to commission the necessary restoration works. The owner and the landlord of the Berstrete Gates are helpfully co-operating to enable this important work to be done.
The panel has recently been inspected by Tom Humphrey of the Fairhurst Gallery, the artist who was responsible for the spectacular restorations of the Coachmakers Arms panel and the Norwich Panorama. He estimates the cost of this restoration to be around £5000.
The Association is now raising funds to commission this project and are looking for contributions from interested local bodies and individuals.
Fundraising team: Bracondale Residents' Association (3)
Dave Plummer
Organizer
Raised £80 from 5 donations
Keri Williams
Team member
Raised £170 from 5 donations
Geoff Woolsey-Brown
Team member
This team raised £4,968 from 20 other donations.
