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Stained Glass Conservation & Repair with Craftworks Heritage

Stained Glass Conservation & Repair & Craftworks Heritage

Sunlight refracting through stained glass onto a stone wall inside a church.

Across the country and beyond there has been a fresh wave of attention on stained glass. In Oxford a new stained glass window was unveiled at Christ Church Cathedral this month, a reminder that this is a living art form as well as a heritage craft. New commissions continue to join historic schemes, and both need skilled design, glazing and long term care.

At the same time, more churches and civic buildings are dealing with storm damage, insurance gaps and ageing lead cames. In Taunton, St Andrew’s Church is fundraising the final amount to repair a 130 year old window damaged over winter, a story that will feel familiar to custodians everywhere facing weathered glass, fatigued lead and putty failure. This is precisely where a careful survey, photographic mapping and a studio-led repair plan make the difference between a patch and a proper conservation outcome.

There is also an ongoing policy conversation about lead. European institutions have been reviewing how and where lead can be used, with proposals and discussions that specifically consider exemptions for cultural heritage so that traditional came work and conservation can continue safely. Studios like ours already work to modern safety standards for handling, fume control and waste, while preserving the historic integrity of windows that were designed to be leaded. Clients deserve clarity on this topic. We are happy to explain what the current guidance means in practice for your project and how we mitigate risks end to end.

Skills are another headline issue. Heritage bodies have warned that specialist trades, including stained glass conservation, need more trained craftspeople to meet demand created by ageing building stock and climate stress. That makes early planning critical. If your building has a quinquennial report or a fabric survey that flags glazing concerns, booking an assessment now protects schedules and budgets and avoids emergency boarding later. The Times

Closer to home, Leicester and the Midlands continue to invest in post war and modernist landmarks as well as medieval fabric. When nationally significant buildings like Liverpool’s Metropolitan Cathedral receive upgraded listing, it underlines a broader truth. Glazing from every era carries artistic and engineering value, whether it is dalle de verre, isothermal protected painted glass, or simple leaded lights in timber sashes. Each demands the right method, from edge bonding and plating decisions to came specification and venting.

 

More about Craftworks Heritage

Craftworks Heritage works from initial condition surveys through to full studio conservation and on site installation. We document every panel, lift glass with minimal intervention, relead only where necessary, retain original material wherever viable, and paint and fire to match using traditional techniques. For sympathetically designed new work we handle concept, cartoon, glass selection and fabrication in house so that new commissions sit comfortably within their architectural setting. Because we also restore timber and metalwork, we can address glazing bars, sash boxes and putty systems at the same time for a durable result.

 

If you are dealing with cracked quarries, bowing panels, failed solder joints or water ingress, let us survey and provide a phased plan. If you are exploring a new stained or painted glass commission, we can design and fabricate with the same conservation mindset that informs our restoration work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Repair fixes a fault so a window is safe and weather tight. Conservation preserves original glass, paint and lead as far as possible, using minimal intervention and full documentation so the history of the piece is retained.

 

Yes. We survey, conserve and install in churches and listed buildings. We can help with permissions, including faculty applications and statements of significance and need.

 

Yes. We make the opening safe, photograph and map the damage, board or glaze temporarily, then plan studio conservation and reinstallation. We can work with insurers and loss adjusters.

Leaded glazing remains a standard heritage method. We follow current guidance, use controlled handling and fume extraction in the studio, and manage waste responsibly. We are happy to explain how safety measures apply to your project.

 

With good materials and detailing, a properly releaded window should last for many decades. Regular inspection and maintenance extend that life.

Yes. We use traditional techniques including trace line, matting and silver stain, and we fire on compatible glass so new work sits naturally with the original.

Isothermal protection places a protective outer layer in front of fragile painted glass so the original sits in a stable microclimate. It is useful for vulnerable medieval and nineteenth century schemes or where pollution and weathering are severe. We advise case by case.

No. We handle domestic leaded lights, commercial foyers, schools and civic buildings as well as churches and cathedrals.

Often yes. We combine archive images, rubbings and surviving fragments to redraw the cartoon and remake the panel in a way that is honest and legible.

It depends on the condition and access. Many projects are best lifted out for studio conservation. Local repairs, minor solder work and glazing adjustments can be done on site where appropriate.

We are based in the Midlands and regularly work across Leicester, Leicestershire and the wider UK by arrangement. We have and do work worldwide.

Yes. We design, paint and fabricate new commissions from concept and cartoon through to installation, ensuring the work fits the architecture and light of the space.

Yes. We can correct bowing by releading or by targeted structural work, and we can replace or edge bond cracked pieces where conservation ethics allow.

Yes. We can address glazing bars, sash boxes and perimeter putties so the window performs as a whole assembly.

Keep frames painted and sealed, ensure ventilation is working, and clean gently with a soft brush and water only. Avoid abrasive cleaners and avoid scraping painted surfaces.

Simple repairs can be completed in days or weeks. Full conservation and large schemes can take several months including permissions, studio work and installation. We will give you a realistic schedule after survey.

 

We can provide the technical details, condition evidence and scope needed for applications and community fundraising packs, and we can join meetings with stakeholders when required.

You get conservation first methods, skilled painting and glazing, coordinated frame repairs and clear communication from survey to sign off, delivered by a Midlands studio that understands both heritage and modern use of buildings.

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