Work begins this week on bringing back a long-forgotten Victorian landmark to Bute Park.
The park’s summerhouse was designed by William Burges and built in around 1875. It was moved to the National Folk Museum at St Fagans in 1988 after falling into disrepair during the 1970s but has never been replaced.
As part of the Bute Park Restoration project a Summerhouse Kiosk is being built in the park that will not only echo the style of the original Burges summerhouse but bring much-needed refreshment facilities and public toilets to the park.
The timber frame kiosk will be built near the site of a disused 70s toilet block opposite the Millennium Bridge walkway, crossing the Taff between the top of the Herbaceous Border and Sophia Gardens.
The toilet block will be demolished and stone will be reused for the new building.
The new Summerhouse Kiosk will serve hot and cold snacks and drinks and have a sheltered veranda with outdoor seating. Work is due to be completed by April.
The Summerhouse Kiosk is the latest part of a £5.6m restoration project of Bute Park, supported by a £3.1m Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant. This will restore, enhance and help people learn about the many historic features in the park including the Animal Wall, Blackfriars Friary and West Lodge.
As part of the project path upgrading works are also taking place, which will make the park safer while improving access and protecting the unique heritage features of the park.
The monoblock access path, which runs up the eastern side of the park, is in poor condition and will be replaced with a hard surface suitable for use by pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchair users, push chairs and events vehicles. The existing North Gate park entrance, which in future will be closed to vehicles, is to be upgraded and re-landscaped to make it more safer, more attractive and welcoming to park users.
Other work includes the repair and upgrade of Castle Mews Avenue and the introduction of two small new access sections to allow deliveries in and out of the nursery.
All the work is being carried out in accordance with strict tree protection measures following the advice of an independent tree expert and the design has been done sensitively to the Park’s Grade I listed status.
Councillor Nigel Howells, Executive member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, said: “2010 will be an important year in the history of Bute Park. The restoration project will see the addition of many exciting features and improvements to the park overall. The Summerhouse Kiosk will be a popular facility and I’m pleased that it is being restored back to the original Burges design.
“The pathway and access improvements are also important and when completed will allow the opening up of the North Gate of Cardiff Castle for pedestrian access into Bute Park; a long-standing ambition of Cardiff Council and the HLF, which will re-unite Cardiff Castle with its parklands.”
The work is being carried out in phases from January to April and sections of pathway will be closed off to the public during this time. Diversion routes will be available, including the newly upgraded Dock Feeder path, and clearly signposted on site. The east-west cycle route adjacent to the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama will see only minimal disruption and the public will be notified of any short planned closure during off peak times on site.
