Lansdowne Club – Traditional stone mason conservation and restoration
Posted by Michael Sheppard on Apr 23, 2012
The Lansdowne club, Mayfair – London, has recently received a façade clean and Inspire Conservation was subcontracted to complete the specialist stone mason elements. The Lansdowne Club is originally a 1763 Robert Adam design which has been later rebuilt and restored at various times and locations. In 1782 the Prime minister Lord Shelburne, acknowledged independence of the United States with Benjamin Franklin in the Round room, which is the only unaltered room in the building. The stone masonry construction is Portland limestone with portico and decorative traditional stone mason carved frieze. The frieze has been conserved many times and there are several previous sheltercoat applications and repair mortars.
We were instructed to repoint the façade, restore failed stone masonry elements including the modillions and plinth stones. There were various mortar grouting applications, resin and stainless steel pin repairs conducted by our stone masons to stabilise the façade and ensure reduced damage by movement over the next decade. We have included some photographs below showing our stone masonry works to this historic building.
Australian Embassy; Statue conservation and stone repairs
Posted by Michael Sheppard on Apr 19, 2012
Inspire Conservation have just completed unique statue conservation and stone masonry restoration repairs to the Australian Embassy in London. Our specialist services in statue conservation were employed following the stone façade cleaning earlier in the month.
Victoria House was built in 1907 on the corner of an island site with the Strand, Aldwych and Melbourne place as the boundary. It was designed by Scottish architects A Marshall Mackenzie & Sons and built by Dove Brothers of Islington. The building is grade II listed in Portland limestone construction, stone colonnades and mansard roof. The entrance is dominated by double life size figures portraying the industries and prosperity of Australia. These include stone statues of male and female figures of explorers and various Australian trades and a bronze statue of Apollo and the horses of the sun at higher level. Statue conservation was required for the bronze collection on the upper most section of the building. The building was accessed by mobile elevation working platforms making the cleaning of the statues a challenge given the size of the figures.
The statues were cleaned with soft brushes and ammonia bi-carbonate solutions to remove the extraneous dirt and then waxed with a microcrystalline wax in several applications. The statue conservation was successful and the difference is quite clear in the photographs below. This was a unique experience and project to conserve these items as it will probably be another 100 years till the next treatment.
The façade was repointed and some capping repairs to failed ashlars. There were several stone units replaced by our stone masons in Portland limestone at ground level to match existing. The ‘Australia House’ sign was gilded.
Wivenhoe House Hotel; restoration of a Victorian Manor
Posted by Michael Sheppard on Mar 24, 2012
Inspire Conservation were sought to undertake specialist conservation elements of the refurbishment of the Victorian Manor into a high class boutique hotel. Essex University and education foundation ‘Edge’ are working to turn Wivenhoe House into a luxury hotel and innovative hotel school. When it opens in spring 2012, pupils will be able to study for fast-track degrees in culinary and hotel management while getting on-the-job experience. We are proud to have been involved in a project like this which will benefit the local community and next generation of graduates.
Our involvement on this site was over an eight month period, covering most of the façade works and all the internal decorative conservation elements. Our work included fibrous cornice installation, sympathetic fibrous ceiling repairs, paint removal from internal decorative elements and lime plastering. Inspire were also responsible for the facade restoration including lime pointing, coping repairs and construction of a new parapet wall to match existing. The new parapet fits seamlessly into the existing building with matching copings and finials, designed to cover the new modern lift construction behind.
Various elements of the programme were very challenging and the project was not without its difficulties but the final success of the project can be accredited to the diligence of the Inspire team.
Click on the photos below to see some details of our work on this project.
Housesteads stones for English Heritage
Posted by Michael Sheppard on Feb 16, 2012
Housesteads is the best-known fort on Hadrian’s Wall and the most complete Roman fort in Britain, currently maintained by English Heritage. Set where Hadrian’s Wall climbs to the top of a dramatic ridge, there are some stunning views to enjoy from the walls of this ancient fortress. Housesteads was one of the permanent forts added to the Wall around AD 124, as part of a second plan for the new frontier. Known to the Romans as ‘Vercovicium’, ‘the place of effective fighters’, Housesteads was garrisoned by around 1,000 infantry.
Housesteads Roman Fort’s new museum opens to visitors this April. The existing museum building at this iconic Roman Fort has been redeveloped and will include some new exhibitions taken from the EH northern area archaeological store. Inspire Conservation were invited by English Heritage to conserve the selection of Roman finds for this exhibition in the store. The stones include a carved relief of Diana, architectural column, carved window lintels and other carved decorative stones.
Inspire sensitively cleaned, consolidated and repaired the stones making them fit for exhibition and removing previous interventions that were detrimental to the fabric or aesthetically displeasing. We have included some photographs below of the carvings and the work undertaken.
Inspire conservation mail shots
Posted by Michael Sheppard on Jan 13, 2012
New stone conservation mail shots available now and will be sent out to clients. If you have seen the information on the blog, LinkedIn, Twitter or indeed Facebook and would like to be added to the mailing list to keep up to date with our news and projects please drop us a line and we will add your details.
Inspire Jan 2012 Stone Conservation
Inspire Jan 2012 Monument Conservation
Inspire Jan 2012 New Developments
Granborough war memorial conservation
Posted by Michael Sheppard on Dec 7, 2011
Granborough Parish Council are responsible for a War Memorial which had fallen into a state of disrepair. The War Memorial Trust had agreed to part fund the restoration of the Memorial, but the funding was conditional.
Inspire Conservation have an obvious passion for sympathetic restoration. The project was completed professionally and with a minimum of fuss. After completion, the report provided not only met the War Memorial Trusts requirements for releasing funds, but has also provided a great pictorial record of the restoration. The Memorial looks amazing; the Council are pleased with the results and the helpful advice for keeping the Memorial looking great and as Clerk, I am very thankful that Inspire Conservations has helped the process of obtaining the Grant run smoothly. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this Company.
Mrs Victoria Firth
Clerk to Granborough Parish Council
Ridgmont Station House
Posted by Michael Sheppard on Nov 30, 2011
Ridgmont station is currently undergoing extensive restoration supported by substantial investment from the Railway Heritage Trust (RHT) and the current owners Bedford Rural Communities Charity (BRCC). Michael Sheppard at Inspire Conservation has been involved with the project and client from the beginning of the work two years ago following an inquiry from Simic Associates. Michael has managed and performed the restoration of the external timber frame, lime harling panels, internal lime plastering, flooring and brickwork. Other elements including the roof, rainwater goods and insulation have been overhauled, now completing the majority of the external fabric making the building watertight for the winter.
The station is an important feature on the Bletchley to Bedford line as it is one of the last in public ownership as custodians BRCC are a charitable body. The building is constructed in the Cottage Orné style to complement the structures on the Duke of Bedford’s estate. The station was opened in 1846 and used until the late 70’s. The building is timber framed with lime render panels and brickwork plinths. The condition two years ago was close to derelict and parts of the building close to collapse. The work that has been undertaken, by all parties, has helped save this listed building which will be used as small business offices, museum and education facility and meeting rooms.
The RHT and BRCC have invested a significant amount of time and energy to revive this building and have been very impressed with the quality of the work undertaken on the site. They will continue to invest in the building for the remaining phases of work going in to the new year. Michael Sheppard at Inspire Conservation is proud of the project and hopes to be involved from start to finish.
Conservation Register
Posted by Michael Sheppard on Nov 30, 2011
The Conservation Register is a resource maintained by the conservation professional body, ICON. Accredited conservators have the privilege of detailing their workshop on the site which has proved very useful for individuals and public bodies to source free information concerning specialist conservation services. As only accredited conservators can publish their content on the site you can be confident that the highest possible conservation services are supplied and the content regulated and endorsed.
The site has had a facelift recently and Inspire Conservation have updated their details also. Please click on the link below to view our workshop details and how we can assist you with your projects.
Inspire Conservation; Conservation Register
Liken for Lichen
Posted by Michael Sheppard on Nov 20, 2011
Following our campaign for good ethical stone conservation we have republished our article from a few years ago concerning the removal of lichens from monuments. This information can be used to assess whether it is necessary to remove growths from monuments and gauge the impact it will have on the stone and the legibility of inscriptions.
New research is currently being undertaken and it is planned that we will be publishing our findings in the coming year.
Picton Castle Stone Conservation
Posted by Michael Sheppard on Nov 20, 2011
Inspire Conservation have just completed conservation repairs to a finely carved fire surround at Picton Castle in Pembrokeshire. Michael Sheppard conducted a condition report on several fire surrounds at the 13th century castle earlier in the year. The Picton Castle Trust wished to undertake careful stone conservation repairs and cleaning to the Main Hall fire surround by renowned carver, Henry Cheere.
Born in Clapham, Surrey, Henry Cheere was apprenticed in 1718 to mason-sculptor Robert Hartshorne. By 1726 he had established his own workshop near St Margaret’s, Westminster and established a team of apprentices and was joined by Flemish sculptor Henry Scheemakers. In 1743, Cheere was appointed carver at Westminster Abbey, an appointment which led to his creation of at least nine monuments in the Abbey. In 1750 he was appointed a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.
He was knighted on 10 December 1760 and created 1st Baronet Cheere, of St Margaret’s, Westminster on 19 July 1766. He retired from business and sold the contents of his workshop in March 1770.
According to the Pevsner Buildings of England series guides, Henry Cheere was “the first English-born sculptor to match the virtuosity of the continentals” and “formed his style on the small, crisp, curvaceous shapes of the French sculptor Roubiliac. Much of his work is unsigned, as is his commonly considered c.1760 masterpiece at Shadoxhurst, Kent.
The carving at Picton is of exceptional quality and is undoubtedly a mark of his talent and experience. The stone conservation treatments included selective lime mortar repairs, consolidation and grouting of the carved panels and flue repairs. The Trust is hoping to raise the next set of funds to conserve the remaining fire surrounds in various rooms within the house.