Philip Gaches

Philip Gaches - Past, Present & Future

What are the chances of being approached by a stranger who identifies where a painting of your ancestor dating back to 1660 can be found? Not very high! Unless, of course, your surname happens to be Gaches and your family of Huguenots came to the UK from Castres in the south of France following the persecution of Protestants there. The painting of Raymond Gaches hangs in the Huguenot Museum in Rochester, housing the collection from the French Hospital a few doors away, providing accommodation for descendants who are in need of help to this day. Raymond’s son John went on to become the private chaplain to Charles II and his likeness was captured by the royal portrait painter of the 17th century, Peter Lilly. His features live on today in the faces of the Gaches of the Deepings!

The family came north to Peterborough and retained their place at the centre of local government, solicitor; W.D. Gaches, born in 1821, was a coroner, Clerk of the Court and ultimately Town Clerk of the city with a son Louis who followed in his shoes and in 1905 wrote The History of the Liberty of Peterborough and the Jurisdiction of the Justices of Goal Delivery for the Hundred of Nassaburgh. During the war Philip’s grandfather was a Batman to an Officer, reading and responding to letters after the War for neighbours who were less able to read and write. Not surprisingly the War affected him severely. His son, Philip’s father Gordon, was one of 13 while Philip’s mother was one of 11, providing a rich source of aunties and uncles! In 1948 Philip’s dad, Gordon, started his own plastering business having worked for Peterborough plasterers Jack and Jock when he was discharged from the army at the end of the War, aged 18. In 1959 the family moved to the bungalow that he had built with bricklayer Colin Gentleman at 52 Horsegate. It was in the front bedroom here that Philip was delivered into the world by Nurse Aldridge who, on her arrival in the middle of the night, had fallen over the gatepost and gashed her leg badly. The family, Anton, Pam, Linda and mother Edna and Gordon eventually moved up the road to Holly House. This then underwent the cringeworthy modernisation popular in the 70s; the replacement of Collyweston slates on the roof, beautifully panelled doors changed to sapele ones and the removal of the flagstones from the kitchen to the patio, which all seems sacrilege today but at the time was very much the in thing! Their next move was to a newly built bungalow on the end of Bell Lane behind the Bell public house, and then the family moved into Dolly Spooncer’s cottage next to the building that is now Maharanis in Bridge Street. The Gaches were now neighbours

of Albert Moyse, the river bailiff who memorably and skilfully ‘played the bones’, the rib bones of a pig! A move to Maxey High Street followed but after just six months Gordon died prematurely at 63 in 1987. The Gaches family’s world was turned upside down; the business was closed down but reopened shortly after with Philip at the helm. Philip had early on decided to join the family business and had started an apprenticeship in 1979 with John Ford at Norwich City College, which he completed in 1982. Little did he realise that he would be jettisoned into running the business at this stage in his career at the grand old age of 23. Initially Philip and Andy Hill, an apprentice from Stamford, continued in the same vein as Gordon had done, largely with local plastering projects. Increasingly, though, Philip’s passion for working in historic buildings grew and after ten years the firm was exclusively focusing on this aspect of the business. Awards and accolades followed and now Philip is a Master Plasterer recognised by the New Guild of the Traditional Plastering Craft. It is true to say that Philip has worked on some of the most prestigious John - Chaplian to Charles 2 plastering projects of the day; the magnificent exterior

of Strawberry Hill House, Windsor Castle following the fire of 1992, the Landmark Trust restoration of the 1790 James Wyatt gothic fantasy working dairy at Cobham Hall in Kent, using authentic materials and techniques and he is now reconstructing three 18th-century ceilings at Apethorpe Palace for Baron and Baroness Von Pfetten who purchased the building from English Heritage after many years of decay in private hands. When Claxby Hall in the Lincolnshire Wolds caught fire in 2011 the roof and ceilings were destroyed by a combination of fire and the water used to extinguish it. The staircase ceiling had been particularly elaborate with a central, oval moulding with an outer broken oval moulding which became four corner panels. Inside the central oval was a heraldic cartouche of the Dashwood family crest and inside each corner panel was a griffon, also an emblem of the Dashwoods. With no measurements available the reconstruction at the hands of Philip took place with the aid of a photograph of part of the ceiling from an old issue of Country Life and one small fragment of the salvaged moulding.

Philip has taken his craftsmanship overseas, working with the Turquoise Mountain Trust established by the Prince of Wales in Myanmar and Afghanistan to train local people in traditional crafts. In Myanmar he has taught 30-40 young architects to restore the colonial buildings to their former glory. Eager to pass on his skills, not only has Philip introduced his sons William and Jude to the trade but he also runs training courses on an international basis and is happy to deliver talks on his passion!

In fact, just what you would expect from a chap who can trace his lineage back to the 15th century and has the weight of history coursing through his veins.

Appletree Junction

INTERIORS

Handmade lampshades and cushions Gifts and cards from Wrendale Designs and Lang.

Market Deeping Antiques and Crafts Centre, High Street, Market Deeping t: 07984788254 ncoxinteriors@hotmail.com

The Cigar Box on the Market Place is a compact, boutique-style establishment literally stocked from floor to ceiling and is owned by the knowledgeable and friendly Howard Callow.

A bespoke, handmade, wall-to-wall humidor is home to a classic collection of Cuban cigars. Complimenting this is a matching cabinet stocked with an array of unusual spirits including whiskies from around the world, brandies, rums and liqueurs. Specially selected botanical gins and vodkas add to this fascinating range which suits every pocket.

This lovely little shop is the place to go for that special something or a tantalising treat.

Free whisky miniature when you bring your copy of this magazine to browse the store

Market Deeping Antiques & Craft Centre

Come for a while & you’ll stay a while longer!

50-56 High Street, Market Deeping PE6 8EB Tel (01778) 380238

Open 10-5 Mon- Sat, 11-4 Sun & Bank Holidays.