Published: 20 February 2025
Roof conservation work going on to prepare the Hall for our 2025 opening on 21st March has uncovered a hidden roll call of local trades going back 125 years. The surprise discovery in the form of signature etchings carved into the original lead flashing and a downpipe was made by Holker’s conservation architect Lilian Main whilst inspecting the roof structure of our iconic neo-Gothic Hall. It was rebuilt following a devastating fire in 1871and some of the signatures date back as far as 1899, carved by local tradespeople to signify pride in their work.
125 year old etchings
According to Lilian. the older signatures would likely have been from plumbers rather than roofers, as they were specialists in working with lead at the time. The etchings discovered include two that are over 125 years old, dated May 1st, 1899, with the names J Simms and Ges Smyman. “Ges” may have been short for “Gesa”, a popular German first name of the time and consistent with the presence of German mining communities in Cumbria. Another, from shortly before The Great War in 1912, belonged to a Fred Windom and Holker’s conservation team are appealing to local people for any information they have relating to these tradesmen from the Victorian and Edwardian periods.
Historic local connection
“Local trades, whether they were plumbers, carpenters or glaziers were instrumental in first creating then preserving the fabric and beauty of one of England’s finest example of Gothic revival architecture here at Holker” explains Lilian. “We’d love to know more about their lives to enhance our understanding of Holker’s enduring historic connection with its local community.”
Maintaining traditions
Local plumber Robert Rhodes was 16 when he started work at Holker Hall and was told to sign his name on a small area of lead on the roof upon completion of some remedial work in 1983. More than 40 years later he still helps maintain the plumbing systems in the Hall and on the wider Holker Estate in South Cumbria. “Signing work you’re proud of is a tradition that has been passed down through generations of tradesfolk” says Robert. “It’s a real trip down memory lane to know my signature is still there all these years later.”
