Restoration background

The chimney-piece in Georgian Britain was, for much of the 18^th and beginning of the 19^th century, the predominant source of heat and light for many rooms. As a result the wear and tear over the subsequent centuries was substantial, often resulting in extensive damage both in the structural integrity of the elements framing the fireplace and mechanical damage from use. A further frequent source of damage occurred when individual pieces were removed from the rooms they were designed for and reduced in size, particularly in height, to allow them to fit into smaller sized rooms.
As a consequence, many of the chimney-pieces that we have restored since 1985 required the re-creation of shelf sections, internal mouldings that frame the fireplace and extensions to jambs and plinth blocks. Whilst robust stone chimney-pieces (often carved from solid blocks) tended to be used for halls, those in State and other important rooms were frequently ornamented with pieces carved from thin sections of Italian statuary marble. These were originally finished to a high gloss (almost glass) finish but over the decades the surface of the marble, which is comparatively soft, has frequently deteriorated.

Projects and recent work

Much of our work involves the cleaning and restoration of imposing marble chimney-pieces. Our preferred restoration process is to remove the chimney-piece from the building, but this is subject to a careful examination of the condition of the chimney-piece with particular relevance to the nature of the material it has been set up with. This is because sand and cement mortar on the walls and poured down the back of the chimney-piece can be stronger than the marble elements that compose the chimney-piece and thus removal can cause more damage than harm.

Once removed all residual soot and carbon deposits to the interior can be cleaned off. Test trials are undertaken with an emphasis on using non abrasive cleaning agents and minimal use of moisture to prevent staining within the marble, and trials with poultices undertaken. Where required some of the weaker or softer marbles can require some consolidation of the surface, a process usually done by hand often using abrasive stones which are moulded to suit the profiles required. Existing wear resulting from fire tools and kerbs is retained as best possible, as these features are part of the age and history of each chimney-piece.

Where mechanical damage has occurred, we try to preserve as much as possible, but where items have deteriorated beyond repair, much time is spent sourcing a type of matching marble and then colouring this to match the atmospheric discolouration of the older marble. Once all repairs and cleaning has been undertaken and all loose elements re-joined, the chimney-pieces are gently dried and then coated with a protective wax. Several examples of recent restorations showing before and after pictures are detailed under projects.