Featuring designs by Vanbrugh, Adam, Gibbs, Kent and Soane, Stowe is one of Europe’s the finest 18th century houses. Like many great estates, it declined in the 19th century and was sold to become a public school. In 1997, the Stowe House Preservation Trust was established and embarked on an ambitious six-phase restoration programme led by Purcell. The practice has completed three phases of internal and external repairs to remove the house from the buildings at risk register. Phase One, completed in 2002, comprised the restoration of cracked stonework on the building’s north front and colonnades, the re-laying of its roofs in Westmorland and local stone slates and the reintroduction of the forecourt grass. Phase Two, completed in 2006, comprised the repair of the spectacular marble saloon and structural repairs to the mansion roof and south portico stonework. Phase Three, completed in 2012, renewed the east and west pavilions and remaining portions of the south front and re-presented the library and ante library, Egyptian Hall and music room.