A Colchester-based firm has been appointed architectural advisers to the Crown Estate.

Purcell Miller Tritton, a partnership of architects, designers and historic building consultants with offices in Rawstorn Road, will look after 900 Crown properties in central London.

These will include the elegant John Nash terraces of Regent's Park the "jewel in the crown" of the Crown Estate as well as several embassies in Kensington and London's best preserved Georgian square Bedford Square.

Chris Betts, of Purcell Miller Tritton, who will be in day-to-day charge of the properties, said: "It's a privilege to be working with such a fine collection of buildings in the heart of London.

"Our job is to safeguard the historic fabric and character of these distinguished buildings and combine this with the comfort and convenience of contemporary life.

"We have to allow them to function efficiently and benefit from all the latest innovations and at the same time, keep the original spirit of the buildings alive.

"We approach it in a similar manner to the way we did Colchester Castle and in the work we do at Westminster Abbey and Canterbury Cathedral.

"We start by getting to know the building well and researching the materials that were originally used.

"Then we find a way to make the 21st century improvements work without damaging that historical integrity."

Published Friday, May 16, 2003

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