Our advisory service
Following a long and active career in tile conservation we are now pleased to offer our advisory and consultancy service.
You can find answers to many of the common problems concerning care of historic tiles on the relevant pages of this web site. Choose which category of tile yours is likely to belong;
Or search our site using the box below:
If the answer is not obviously available then do not hesitate to contact us and we will most likely be able to answer your query freely and easily.
If your project is large scale with a local authority or commercial origin or your tiles are Listed and of historic importance then you may need more detailed help and support in the form of a consultancy report. We will be pleased to help with Listed Building planning applications. Please contact us for initial advice at the email address.
Background
The Jackfield Conservation Studio is an advisory service with a wide range of skills, expertise and experience. Senior conservator, Lesley Durbin, began working in conservation in 1983 with the Ironbridge Gorge Museum’s ceramics conservation programme.
The Jackfield Conservation Studio was formed in 1990 eventually establishing itself as a leading company in the field of tile conservation and restoration, covering architectural tile schemes from the Medieval through to Art Deco and Modern.
The first major commission undertaken by Lesley was the successful completion of the Royal Doulton Frieze, “Pottery through the Ages” by Gilbert Bayes. This is the largest piece of polychromatic ceramic sculpture in the world and is now on permanent display at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London. It subsequently won the National Art Collection Fund Prize.
The Studio has wide experience in the correct approach to any tile conservation problem. Lesley is now Emeritus with the Institute for Conservation, and acts as Conservation Adviser to the Tiles and Architectural Ceramics Society.
Lesley Durbin is author of ‘Architectural Tiles – conservation and restoration’, 2nd Edition published by Routledge, has reviewed for the Getty Institute in Los Angeles, and lectures on conservation of architectural ceramics for a variety different institutes and societies.
Consultancy
Our long and varied experience in the field of architectural ceramics also allows us to benefit our clients in the role of consultants for large or complex projects. Detailed reports and surveys concerning the condition and treatment of historic schemes are regularly undertaken whatever the scale of the project.
Recent surveys include;
- the complete floor tile scheme at Osgoode Hall, the Supreme Court of Ontario, Toronto;
- the interior tile scheme at All Saints Church, Margaret St, London.;
- the medieval tile conservation project for English Heritage;
- sixteen fireplace schemes designed by AWN Pugin at the Palace of Westminster;
- the interior of Harrogate Turkish Baths,
- the medieval Muniment Tower floor at New College, Oxford,
- and the Telecom Murals by Dorothy Annan for City of London and Goldman Sachs.
- interior tile schemes for St Georges Cathedral, Lambeth.
- tile schemes in India House, Manchester, Rochdale and Accrington Town Halls and the Winter Gardens, Morecombe.
Conservation and restoration
The Jackfield Conservation Studio has undertaken work for Historic England, The National Trust, The Railway Heritage Trust, The Churches Conservation Trust, and The Landmark Trust as well as many local authorities, museums and architects.
The Jackfield Conservation Studio has long experience is practical conservation and restoration of architectural tile schemes, these have been many and varied, including the restoration of one of the 1930’s Boots & Co. factory buildings in Beeston, Nottingham, the refurbishment of two large tiled garden pavilions in Worcestershire, as well as the conservation and recreation of Pugin’s original tiling schemes in both houses of the Palace of Westminster.
The company also worked at The Royal Courts of Justice, London, which involved the consolidation and conservation of original tiling, as well as the splendidly frivolous gentleman’s lavatories on the Isle of Bute, and, of course, the famous Harrods Food Hall scheme.
Organising a programme of new colour development, conservation and conservation training with the officers of Osgoode Hall, State Courthouse, Toronto, Canada which began in 1999 and continued until 2004 was particularly enjoyable. The interior restoration and conservation of Harrogate Turkish baths was completed in 2004 combining on-site conservation and restoration. We have also worked as a successful team with the local authority to bring about the conservation, re-manufacture and reinstatement of the flamboyant interior of Number 1, Botchergate, Carlisle and with the Railway Heritage Trust on the Victorian Waiting Rooms at Worcester Shrub Hill Station, 2008. More recently we conserved and restored the interior of the traditional fish and chip shop at the Black Country Museum, Dudley. We developed a training scheme for students as part of the restoration of Rochdale Town Hall and regularly lecture for The University of Birmingham Ceramic Building Materials course.
Our experience in conservation, restoration and re location is long and varied, we are now putting that experience to good use by offering a unique consultation service.
For enquiries concerning conservation consultancy contact: Lesley Durbin
email: lesleydurbin7@gmail.com
Privacy Notice
Users of this web site will sometimes decide to send written or photographic information regarding historic tiles, their location and condition. In doing so users agree that photographs and relevant information may be sent on to other experts in the field for confirmation and assurance that the correct advice, so far as is possible, is being given in good faith as a result of the enquiry.
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