Road to Ramsgate
- Louie Young
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
It was a true honour to not only attend but also take part in this year’s Pugin Week in Ramsgate. Ramsgate had been on my bucket list for the longest time, and experiencing it in person was beyond wonderful. Over the years, I have heard so much about the Grange and seen many glimpses of its interiors, but seeing it in person for the first time literally reduced me to tears.
The Grange is the ultimate pilgrimage for any fan of Pugin’s work, and nothing quite tops being able to sit at the desk in his library and take in the same view of the sea he would have done all those years ago. The house also has such a homely feel and it's lovely to experience the more humble and domestic side of Pugin.
The other poignant moment of the trip was visiting the Shrine of St Augustine and Pugin’s final resting place. A copy of the effigy atop his tomb resided in my dining room for a short while when it was on loan to us from Alton Towers, making seeing the real thing in person feel very much like visiting an old friend. Whilst alone in Pugin’s chantry, I discreetly paid my respects and quietly gave thanks to the man who has so greatly inspired me and so many others.
As well as our Pugin pilgrimage, we were also there to exhibit our restoration of the chapel ceiling and banqueting hall window at Alton Towers display in the north cloisters. Staying on that theme, I also gave a talk on Saturday morning at the visitor centre, where I took attendees on a virtual tour of Pugin’s work at the Towers.
I would like to say a massive thank you to Catriona Blaker and Anthony Jinks at the Shrine of St Augustine’s who made Lee and I feel so very welcome and took time to show us around Pugin’s magnificent church. We felt very at home in Ramsgate and we can’t wait to come back again soon! - Louie Young
You can see more of our visit to Ramsgate and explore The Grange here
Links:
Shrine of St Augustine - https://www.augustine-pugin.org.uk/
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