In December 2017, Hirst Conservation was commissioned to undertake a comprehensive condition survey of the reredos. This initiative was part-funded by grants from ChurchCare, the Benham Charitable Trust, and the Constance Travis Charitable Trust. The aim of the survey was to record the current condition of the reredos and floor monuments, understand their history and significance, investigate previous interventions, identify causes of deterioration, and present conservation recommendations based on the findings.

The reredos of Geddington’s St Mary Magdalene Church, dating from c.1350-70, with significant work by Sir G.G. Scott in 1857 and Ninian Comper in 1888-89, had suffered extensive damage over the centuries. Comper’s intricate decoration, including painted zinc panels depicting the Crucifixion and other religious figures, faced progressive deterioration due to dampness and inappropriate historic repairs. This led to corrosion and paint loss on the zinc panels, and structural damage to the masonry, necessitating urgent conservation efforts.

The thirteen painted zinc panels were carefully removed from the reredos to our workshop for treatment following detailed investigation and analysis to inform treatment proposals. The reredos was cleaned and delaminating decoration conserved following paint analysis.

Each zinc panel was treated in our workshops with careful recreation of lost detail in a reversible media and the panels were resinstated in time for celebration of Christmas.

During the project the lead conservator produced a regular blog update and following completion our conservation manager and the lead conservator presented a public talk at the church.

Image showing before treatment (top); following removal of the zinc panels (centre); and following reinstallation of the conserved panels (bottom)

Comparison images showing panels of St Andrew (above left) and St Thomas (above right) before and after treatment.

Link to the blog Geddington Reredos Blog