‘Edgar Wood – A Painted Veil’ documentary finishes filming in Italy

Photo: LINDA SLATTERY

Imperia, Italy where Middleton architect Edgar Wood lived until his death

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The Heritage Film Group has finished shooting part of definitive documentary, ‘Edgar Wood – A Painted Veil’ at the Middletonian architect’s former home in Imperia, Italy.

Currently, there are no film records about the heritage and legacy of Middleton-born Wood (1860-1935).

Edgar Wood, who designed the Grade-II listed Redcroft in 1891 and lived in it until 1916, gained a considerable reputation and was a key figure in the Arts and Crafts movement, an architectural style which celebrated traditional forms of craftsmanship which people feared would be lost as a result of the industrial revolution.

The unique and exciting project follows the life and times of Wood, a leading proponent of the Arts and Craft movement and worked on domestic and public buildings in and around Manchester and Yorkshire. His eclectic work bridges the gap between The Pre-Raphaelites and Modernism.

Director Anthony Dolan is now back from filming in Italy, where Wood spent most of the last 15 years of his life. He lived there in Imperia, Liguria in the north-west of the country permanently from 1922. He built his own villa in 1926, but in the first few years, he lived with the nuns in the monastery at Monte Calvario.

Leo Lagorio, an Edgar Wood collector and historian, was an invaluable guide for all the location filming and was well-acquainted with Mrs. Rosa Quaglia, the nonagenarian owner of Wood’s home at Monte Calvario, Imperia.

Mr Dolan said: “Mrs. Quaglia and her family were incredibly gracious and welcoming, in fact, it seemed that most of Imperia was supporting the Edgar Wood film project.

“The minister of culture came out to meet us, and gave us an invitation to screen the finished film in the City of Imperia itself.

He continued: “There was a rather moving moment filming Edgar’s grave at the English Cemetery at Diana Marino – he was not a Catholic, so he was buried in a separate part, but it is telling that the tombstone read ‘Edgar Wood of Monte Calvario, Porto Maurizio‘. Despite being a true Middletonian, his spirit belonged in Italy.”

The director added: “It was a remarkable trip and the footage is pretty good – even if I say so myself – but you would have to be an idiot to get a bad shot in that place.”

The Heritage Film Group, who are based at Wood’s Long Street Methodist Church buildings in Middleton, began filming earlier this year, at Wood’s former home, ‘Briarcourt’ in Huddersfield. The famous architect himself will be portrayed by actor Gareth Mason.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/110161/filming-begins-on-edgar-wood-documentary

The film would not be possible without funding from The National Lottery, who granted £36,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund towards the project, including advertising and promotion, equipment hire, screening venue hire, filming and editing.

North West Heritage and The Royal Institute of British Architects, and their wider associations, have acknowledged that this is a very special and unique heritage opportunity.

A number of Wood’s stunning buildings have already been given a makeover, including Redcroft, the Staircase and Exedra in Jubilee Park, along with two grade-II properties on Rochdale Road, Middleton.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/112922/heritage-properties-designed-by-edgar-wood-renovated-in-middleton

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/109605/edgar-wood%E2%80%99s-staircase-and-exedra-in-jubilee-park-undergoing-restoration

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/101749/edgar-wood-home-of-famous-middleton-architect-restored-to-its-former-glory

The projects were part of the Middleton Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI), which has seen Rochdale Borough Council use a £1.9m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore a number of historic buildings in the Middleton Town Centre Conservation area, with a particular emphasis on Edgar Wood designed buildings.

A £500,000 restoration of the Long Street Methodist School is currently being considered by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/113082/edgar-wood%E2%80%99s-long-street-methodist-school-being-considered-by-heritage-lottery-fund