| Background
The Bartow-Pell Mansion is the last of more than a dozen architecturally distinctive homes that once overlooked Long Island Sound along the shores of Pelham Bay.
 Designed by an unknown architect and built between 1836 and 842, the three-story Greek Revival mansion features a dramatic, freestanding spiral staircase that connects the elegant ground floor parlors with the bedrooms above. When built, the home was surrounded by pastureland, orchards and lawns sloping down to Pelham Bay. It typified elegant, mid-19th century country living in the region.
The Bartow family, descendants of Thomas Pell who in 1666 received a land grant issued to the Manor of Pelham by the first English Governor of New York, Richard Nicholls, lived in the house for 50 years. In 1888, the Bartow children sold the estate to the City of New York to become part of Pelham Bay Park. During the next 25 years the buildings and gardens were left to deteriorate.
They were rescued by the International Garden Club, a group of prominent New Yorkers intent on promoting horticultural knowledge and saving the mansion.  The group obtained a long-term lease and, beginning in 1914, used the building as its headquarters. Raising funds to restore the house and plant formal gardens, their project was one of the earliest public restoration efforts in the United States. The restoration work and design of the gardens were both carried out by the architectural firm of Delano & Aldrich.
The International Garden Club has officially become the Bartow-Pell Conservancy. However, it is still charged with the restoration and upkeep of the house and grounds as a museum. A project to restore to the garden to the original Delano & Aldrich design began in 2008.
The Bartow-Pell Conservancy maintains the house, carriage house and grounds, which include formal terraces, a fountain, and herb and perennial gardens. The garden is the site of the workshop.
Project
The current gardens at the rear of the house were designed by William Delano of Delano & Aldrich and constructed from 1915-1916. Delano’s design covered the sloping ground with a series of descending terraces enclosed by stone walls. Each rectangular walled garden is divided into four quadrants by flagstone walks and steps that surround a central, square pond.
 These stone walkways will be the focus of our work. Volunteers will be clearing previous, inharmonious Portland cement repairs and replacing them with galleting, a form of fine masonry that involves filling the space between large stones with small pieces, or gallets. Work will be led by a local mason and Historic House Trust staff who received training from mason Andy deGruchy at the 2008 workshop, Gallantly Galleting at the Abreuvoir.
A second year of galleting certainly qualifies as “galore”!
The property is now owned by New York City Dept. of Parks & Recreation, managed by the Bartow-Pell Conservancy and is a member of the Historic House Trust of NYC. HCN is joining their efforts to restore the walkways that take visitors through the gardens.
Logistics
Masonry work in the terrace garden will take place Monday – Thursday from 8 am to 5:00 pm. The workshop fee covers lodging Sunday – Thursday nights, breakfast and lunch, workshop instruction and materials, and insurance. A special fee of $175 is available for participants who do not need lodging; see registration form. Transportation to the site is the responsibility of each participant.
 Lodging will be provided nearby. Workshop fees are based on double occupancy; single rooms are available upon request for an additional fee. Additional nights may be available for those wishing to extend their visit and sightsee.
If arriving by air, it is best to fly into LaGuardia Airport for domestic flights, or John F. Kennedy International Airport for international flights. Then take a taxi to the Inn, located at 586 City Island Avenue.
Summer in New York City can be hot and humid with daytime average highs of 32 C (90 F), though working outside will feel hotter. Bring clothing that is appropriate for the weather as well as protective while working. Close-toed shoes are required; long pants and long-sleeved shirts should be brought to the site, although they may not be required at all times. Water bottles, sun screen and insect repellent are highly recommended. Please be conscious that safety is an important issue at any work site.
For any additional information, please contact us at workshops@heritageconservation.net or call +1 303-444-0128.
If you would like to help with conservation efforts at the Bartow-Pell Mansion but are unable to attend the workshop, you can still participate by supporting our conservation efforts with a tax-deductible donation to HCN. We have partnered with Groundspring.org to make it easy and safe for you to donate online:
If you would prefer to mail in a gift, please use our donation form.
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