Wallpaper sample, 1981

A sample of the reproduction flock wallpaper made for Lydiard House in 1981 to replace the worst worn areas of hand blocked paper in the Drawing Room and State Bedroom. Fortunately the original blocks for the pattern were found in the Islington factory of Cole & Sons Ltd of London ( Ref. Traditional Interior Decoration Magazine, Autumn 1986).

The pomegranate pattern was first identified at Temple Newsam House, Leeds, where it was hung in 1824. It was thought that the Lydiard paper was also hung at this time, part of a scheme to smarten up the house for letting, following the death of the 3rd Viscount Bolingbroke.

The council decided to imitate the old faded paper with its biscuit (rather than the original deep crimson) coloured background to blend in as seamlessly as possible. The walls were cross-hung with canvas, before the flock wallpaper was applied.

See Items of Interest for photographs and records of the redecoration in 1981.