Restoration and Repair of Stained Glass, Leaded Lights, Windows and Frames

To Restore or Conserve, what is the difference?

Usually it is the lead light cements breaking down that allow a panel or window to move. In time this allows even more cements to fall out and the lead joints start to crack. Left untouched this can lead to cracked and broken glass. Sometimes a panel/window can be re cemented and cleaned in situ saving the expense of removal and refitting but each case must be judged on its own merits – there is no general rule.

Conservation is the principle of retaining as much of the original as possible with the minimum of intervention whereas restoration is refurbishing something to bring it back to an ‘as new’ condition.

What do I mean?

If you have a cracked piece of glass and you want the window conserved we would either glue the glass back together (using a special glue & method) or place a fine lead to join the pieces of glass and then use the original ‘repaired’ glass in the window. However if you wanted the window restored then we would source a new piece of glass to look like the original and use that instead.

Often windows are both conserved and restored e.g. The original glass is used (but repaired as necessary) and the window is re-leaded using new matching leads.

In terms of cost the conservation of a window will be more expensive than the restoration and making new is often cheaper than conservation or restoration!

We are involved with the ongoing programme of the restoration of a Grade 2 listed church in Christchurch, a 10 year project. We undertake a wide variety of work from, the in situ repair of a single piece of clear broken glass to complex conservation/restoration projects.

Our clients include architects, surveyors, churches, listed building authorities and, of course, the private owner.