Oliver Gerrish is an architectural historian, bespoke tour organiser and building consultant. A graduate of the University of Cambridge, he has been working in the world of architectural preservation and research for twenty years. When he was nineteen re-founded the then dormant youth chapter (the Young Georgians) of architectural charity, The Georgian Group. As Chairman, he built up a large membership through tours to over one hundred historic houses, lectures and social events. In his early twenties he took internships at the offices of Ben Pentreath and Quinlan and Francis Terry. He has also worked with historic paint expert Patrick Baty.
Oliver was a trustee of the Georgian Group for nine years and has been a trustee of the Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust since 2009. He founded their Architecture Awards in 2018. In 2016 he co-founded Historic Decoration alongside interior designer Caroline Percy. Since then, Historic Decoration has organised various study days and seminars with a number of expert contributors, including Edward Bulmer, Patrick Baty, Annabel Westman, Francis Terry, Stephen Calloway, Allyson McDermott, Frances Sands, Locker & Riley, Hayles and Howe, Nicky Haslam, Allidad, John Goodall, Jeremy Musson, Hakan Groth and more. Oliver has lectured on historic buildings for the University of Cambridge, the ICAA, the Royal Oak Foundation, Revolutionary Spaces (Boston, USA), the Wintherthur Museum, the Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust, the Association for Cultural Exchange, the Staffordshire Record Office, the New England Historic Genealogical Society, the Cambridge Society in Derbyshire, Fellows Auctioneers and others.
Oliver has written extensively for Country Life (with two feature articles in 2022 on Radbourne Hall and Thirsk Hall), as well as The Georgian, House & Garden and the American journal Tether. He has been a panelist on BBC Front Row and has appeared on a number of television shows and series. He has been asked to consult on numerous projects, from entire houses to garden buildings. He enjoys working as part of a team with the interior designers and craftsmen. He works to make sure that the historic detail is as correct as it can be. These stylistic details are absolutely crucial to the integrity of both historic buildings and new buildings in an historic style.
Oliver works from site or from plans and media. He is an expert in correct historic detail, whether it is for a new hotel, smart club, or a restoration or conversion on an historic building. He also enjoys designing bespoke projects, some of which are shown opposite.
‘Oliver was a huge help advising on paint and finishes for Trusley Church, which is a Grade II* listed building. We will be sure to use him again’
Edward Coke-Steel - Trusley Estate, Derbyshire
Extension, refenestration and refacing of an existing 1980s rendered superficially timber framed wing to an earlier house
New decorative wall in a garden courtyard setting. The arches were kept to the proportion of a perfect square with an arch above. The buttressing below each arch adds a monumental effect to the ensemble
Greek style doorcase in Birchover stone for a modern extension to an earlier building
Drawing for dining inglenook for a modern mews house in central London
The inglenook wall before the final coats of paint
The finished inglenook incorporating fielded paneling and a cornice with dentils
Modern dining room in a 1950s Georgian style. This style was chosen due to the height of the room being too low for a dado rail. The paneling goes from floor to cornice without a break to produce a feeling of height. It is fielded and painted in two tones of blue and one of cream. The colour scheme was inspired by a bedroom at Tredegar House in Wales. I choose a monumentally large cornice with dentils and a plain Regency chimneypiece was chosen to balance the 1830s door surrounds, which were the only original part of the earlier decoration to survive.
The brief was to turn a drawing room into a dining room. Luckily the Victorians had intended this in the first place, so the role suited it well. I had to choose a colour what went with the existing carpet, various paintings, the curtains and, most importantly, a set of mica panels designed by Nicky Haslam and painted by Paul Czainski. The room now sparkles and is, I hope, an enjoyable and thrilling space in which to spend time.
A barely used landing space was given added perspective and theatre by the introduction of a trompe l'oeil painted panel by Richard Shirley-Smith. I then added tower-like blocks of shelves either side. The back of each shelf is painted in a colour that compliments the painted panel. Each ‘tower’ is surmounted by a marble lion. Painted scenery, real objects and interior architecture combine to make a mere thoroughfare into a place to enjoy and spend time in. I used a sisal for the flooring, which is both durable and attractive.