April 8, 2026 / By rachel
As part of our 40 projects for 40 years series, this is a project that celebrates heritage, restoration, craftsmanship and community.
This is Week 5 of our 40 projects celebrating 40 years of RRA Architects.
Week 5 and another anniversary to celebrate!
On 7th April 2015, it was 11 years since the official reopening of the restored Pittville Gates in Cheltenham, opened by the Mayor and celebrated with RRA’s Managing Director Mark Powles, the Town Crier, Cheltenham Borough Council and the Friends of Pittville team who championed the project from the start.
Originally forming a grand entrance to Pittville Park, the gates had, over time, fallen into serious disrepair. Sections were missing, details had been lost and what was once a striking landmark had become a shadow of its former self.
The ambition was not simply to repair what remained, but to properly restore the gates to their original presence and importance within the town.
Working as a heritage architect in Cheltenham, the project required careful research, collaboration and a deep respect for the original design. Surviving fragments were studied, historic references were used and traditional techniques were brought back into play.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the project was the recreation of the gates themselves. Replacement sections were cast using molten metal, a process that combined traditional craftsmanship with modern precision to faithfully reproduce the original detailing.
The wider scheme also looked beyond the gates, improving the surrounding public realm and reinstating the sense of arrival that had been lost over time. The entire paved area was carefully relaid, incorporating subtle parallel lines of cobbles within the paving as a nod to the historic tram lines that once passed through the gates.
The result is a landmark that once again feels complete, welcoming visitors into Pittville Park as it was always intended to.
Less well known is what lies beneath. Sealed away below the gates is a time capsule, created in collaboration with local schools, quietly preserving a snapshot of 2014 for future generations to discover.
The project was recognised with a Civic Award for Restoration in 2016, celebrating the quality and sensitivity of the restoration, along with its contribution to the local community and improvement to the public realm. To explore more images and details of the restoration, view the full project at our Pittville Gates page.
Projects like this are a reminder that heritage is not just about preserving the past, but about restoring pride in the places people value most. You can also read more about the wider restoration story via the Friends of Pittville website.
As our 40 projects for 40 years series continues, we will be sharing more projects that reflect the people, places and stories behind our journey.