An art-loving hairdresser has saved beautiful carvings from a Hindu temple. Piero D’Angelico saw builders were working on the Old Library on Mill Road, and discovered that the intricately carved stone pillars around the former altar were to be destroyed. The former Bharat Bhavan temple is currently being renovated by Cambridgeshire County Council.
Now he has persuaded county council officials to hold off the demolition while he raises the cash to pay for sympathetic removal of the stonework which he hopes to display locally in a public outdoor space.
In a statement to Cambridge Independent, Piero said, “My grandfather was a stonemason and sculptor who mostly worked on restoring churches. As a boy, I used to work with him and so when I saw these carved columns I knew that thousands of hours of craftsmanship had gone into creating them.
“I thought it would be a criminal waste to destroy them so I’ve been talking to the contractors who have been very sympathetic and if I can raise money for the work and specialist equipment then they will allow them to be removed carefully and preserved. They really are beautiful and I think something that the general public would enjoy, so I hope that once they are removed I might be able to find somewhere that is willing to host them. I have a couple of places in mind to approach. We must protect diversity and cultural identities in Mill Road.”
The county council took possession of the grade II listed building, which had been leased to the temple, and is carrying out essential renovations, after it was vacated by the Indian Community and Culture Association in January 2020.
The council has said the team on site will work with Piero D’Angelico to ensure the stonework is removed safely. The money must be raised in the next few days in order to save the carvings.
