Glimmering gold gates and grills have been restored to their original splendour at historic Cliveden.

The National Trust has restored them to look exactly as William Waldorf Astor intended commissioned them 120 years ago at the beautiful Taplow mansion which was the Astor home for many years.

In 1895 Astor commissioned Singers of Frome to produce lavish gold gates and grills to adorn his show-piece South Terrace. Originally made from ironwork and then covered in 23¾ carat gold leaf, they were later painted over using gold imitation paint.

In 2012 The National Trust began a five-year £6 million restoration project on the Grade 1 listed South Terrace.

The restoration process began with a specialist blacksmiths inspecting and assessing years of rust and corrosion. They repaired and reforged missing elements to match the original design, while a gilding specialist in London restored the gates and grills to their original colour by applying the gold leaf.

The gates and grills below the South Terrace were commissioned as decorative pieces to close off the Sounding Chamber, which has also been restored by removing damaged and peeling render from the walls and re-rendering.

During the work, intricate brickwork and hidden funnels in the ceiling were discovered, adding to the theory that the impressive acoustic domed space was once used for musical performances.

The golden gates and grills can be viewed from the middle of December and the Sounding Chamber reopens in September 2018.