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APR

14 Apr

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Hirst Conservation joins Palace of Westminster consortium

April 14, 2022 | By |

Hirst Conservation, in conjunction with our consortium partners Sandberg, Conisbee, Hutton+ Rostron, are delighted to have been appointed onto the four-year framework to undertake intrusive surveys at the Palace of Westminster, as part of their Restoration and Renewal Programme.

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12 Oct

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Wentworth Woodhouse – Going for Gold

October 12, 2021 | By |

Architectural paint research can often seem to be the invisible specialism but it’s where a conservation project often begins.

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31 Jul

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Good News for Maison Dieu Restoration Project

July 31, 2020 | By |

Belated congratulations to Dover Town Hall on the award of planning permission for the proposed £9 million redevelopment of the Grade I-listed medieval and neo-gothic building Maison Dieu, which will include essential conservation work as well as the re-instatement of hugely significant William Burges decorations.

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18 Oct

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Wentworth Woodhouse: First Phase Investigations and Surveys

October 18, 2018 | By |

Hirst Conservation have been undertaking a number of surveys at the glorious Wentworth Woodhouse outside Rotherham, South Yorkshire. Once a family home, the house was acquired by the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT) in 2017. Renowned as once the largest private stately home in the country, the east front boasts a magnificent 600 foot long façade.

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15 Jun

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HMS Warrior: Uncovering the Last Victorian Iron Hulled Warship

June 15, 2018 | By |

In the spring of 2018 our architectural paint researcher started a programme of research to the interior of The National Museum of the Royal Navy’s HMS Warrior at which has been on display at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard for over 30 years.

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14 Mar

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Lead testing using XRF analysis

March 14, 2018 | By |

XRF analysis can be a useful tool in determining the presence of lead in historic paint films. A portable handheld XRF ‘gun’ on site, allows a large number of samples to be tested in a relatively short period of time, and also has the benefit of being non-destructive. Read More

27 Sep

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Belton House Stables

September 27, 2017 | By |

For the past few months we have been undertaking paint research to the stables at Belton House, Grantham. Belton House was built for Sir John Brownlow in 1688 and is one of the last properties to be bequeathed to the National Trust (1984). It is a Grade I listed property with the stables listed within the top 10 significant surviving 17th century stables in the country. Read More

26 May

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Delapré Abbey – Billiard Room now open within the Café

May 26, 2017 | By |

Through most of 2016 Hirst Conservation completed Architectural Paint Research, conservation of extant finishes and reinstatement of lost elements throughout the major state rooms of Delapré Abbey. We still can’t wait to see the spaces furnished and complete, but were delighted to visit Northampton recently and find the cafe open in the new orangery, and afternoon tea laid out in the billiard room. Read More

26 May

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Gorton Monastery, Manchester

May 26, 2017 | By |

Hirst Conservation has now completed a major conservation project at Gorton Monastery in Manchester. The works started in March 2016, for HH Smith and Son and project architect Alan Gardner, as part of a larger project ‘Sharing the Story – Welcome Wing’, and included repairs and conservation to the historic fabric of the Sanctuary and Lady Chapel. Over twenty conservators worked on site and at the Hirst workshops, to bring the ‘romantic ruin’ back to life. Read More

26 May

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Dover Town Hall, Maison Dieu

May 26, 2017 | By |

A belated congratulations to Dover Town Hall on the launch of their restoration appeal and award of Grade I listed building designation.  Hirst Conservation was delighted to be able undertake initial architectural paint research and digital recreation to reveal and showcase some of the fantastic William Burges decoration to key interiors.

Following initial paint research, limited uncovering and examination of archive images we were able to overlay onto images of the current scheme a digital recreation of the original colours, line work, stencilling, and free hand painting that make up the decoration of these splendid William Burges interiors.
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