Skillington Workshop

Theodosian Palace Conservation Project: Stobi, North Macedonia

August 05, 2024 by Elizabeth Blood in Building, News 0 comments

Conservators from Skillingtons worked with an international team led by Graham Abrey for the Balkan Heritage Foundation with the National Institution Stobi at a site in North Macedonia. They were helping to conserve part of one of the most important buildings at Stobi; the 4th century Roman residential Theodosian Palace. An exemplar trial was wanted to show how current conservation practices could work for the rest of the site. The works consisted of repairing damage to a wall caused by post-excavation exposure to the atmosphere and the failure over time of historic attempts to stabilise it, and included repairs to the wall head and consolidating losses through salt damage. Whilst working on the site in May 2024, Skillingtons trained local heritage workers in conservation best practice and maintenance. The project was funded by the Kaplan Fund. Stobi is a Roman city archaeological site, mainly dating from the Early Imperial (1st century BC) to Late Antiquity (6th century AD) periods. It is vast, with many important buildings and mosaics, much of it yet unexcavated. Next to the River Vardar in North Macedonia, it is easy to appreciate Stobi’s strategic position. The Palace was excavated in the 1920s, and in […]

Skillingtons host rare chance to see conservation of medieval monuments at St Andrews Church, Wingfield, Suffolk.

April 04, 2024 by Elizabeth Blood in News 0 comments

At Wingfield church on Wednesday 10th April 2024 between 2pm-4pm, Skillingtons are hosting a free ‘pop-up’ event on behalf of the Church Monuments Society. All welcome. Join us if you can for a unique insight into ongoing conservation works by Skillington Workshop Ltd. at the fascinating St Andrews Church, Wingfield, in Suffolk. Skillingtons are working on the fine late-15th-century alabaster monument to John de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, and his wife Elizabeth (Plantagenet, sister of Edward IV and Richard III). They are also re-inspecting the wooden effigies of Michael de la Pole, Earl of Suffolk and his wife Katherine Stafford (carved c.1410). Senior Conservators from Skillingtons will explain the work they are doing. There may be a rare chance to see the underside of the wooden effigies during the conservation works. St Andrews is a Grade I listed church that was built from 1362. As the de la Poles of Wingfield Castle continued to gain wealth and power, they beautified the church extensively in the 14th and 15th centuries, and had their magnificent tombs placed there. Donations to the church will be welcome on the day. A portaloo will be in situ at […]

Skillington Workshop Ltd to receive £10,100 from second round of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund

April 09, 2021 by Tony in News 0 comments

Skillngtons has received a grant of £10,100 from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help us manage the increased costs and the uncertainty around working through the Covid pandemic. We are one of 2,700 recipients from the latest round of awards from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund. Although we have been fortunate to have been able to manage an almost continuous stream of work since mid-May 2020, having had to take advantage of the government’s furlough scheme for our site staff for seven weeks, there have been numerous increased costs. In line with industry guidance we have revised our travel arrangements and had to provide additional vehicles to avoid sharing long journeys in vans. Our work regularly involves having to stay away, which has been particularly challenging in terms of finding suitable digs which are not shared, eating arrangements, and indeed for the wellbeing of our team. A lot of our work involves handling heavy and awkward objects or working in relatively confined spaces, and we have had to adjust methods accordingly to minimise compromising social distancing. The grant will help mitigate these costs and allow us to manage our way through to what we hope […]

Coronavirus statement

April 06, 2020 by Tony in News 0 comments

The Coronavirus pandemic is affecting all walks of life and our business is no exception. The majority of the sites we are working on have closed until the government’s lockdown measures have eased, working away from home (staying in accommodation) is not currently viable, and much of what we do is impossible whilst following social distancing protocol. For the time being we are therefore limited to administration and report-writing (mainly from home-working) and emergency works. During this period we are preparing for a return to work in due course, looking at what strategies we might employ if there is a partial or temporary easing of lockdown. In the meantime please direct all email enquiries to admin@skillingtons.co.uk . Our office number – 01476 565671 – should be answered during office hours but in case of difficulty or for out-of-hours emergencies only please contact David Carrington on 07713 647225. We apologise for any inconvenience caused whilst these measures are in place and hope that all of our contacts stay in good health.

South Mimms Church

February 13, 2020 by Tony in News 0 comments

South Mimms is best known to some as the service station where the A1 meets the M25, but nearby is a small but historic village in which is historic St. Giles’s church. Skillingtons have been involved here for many years, initially in assisting a main contractor with in 2011 the re-location of the important mid-15th century Frowyk brasses, set in a fractured Purbeck marble ledger slab, from the foot of the tower to the Frowyk Chapel to the north of the Chancel. The Frowyk Chapel is known to have been built in about 1525-6, the centre-piece originally being the fine canopied tomb chest monument to Thomas (d.1523), son of the builder Henry Frowyk. Exceptionally fine London work this is one of a group of monuments also including that to Christopher Urswyck (d.1522) in St. John at Hackney – which was also conserved by Skillingtons (our survey in 2004, the works carried out in 2009). Unfortunately the Frowyk Chapel has been affected by settlement and the north wall – into which the monument is built – falling outwards. We have been monitoring this since cracks first started appearing in the monument in 2016, and in 2019 concluded in […]

St Alban’s Cathedral – Restoration of the Shrine of St Amphibalus

October 01, 2019 by Tony in News 0 comments

Shrines were focal points of medieval cathedrals, housing relics of saints and attracting pilgrims from far and wide to pray for forgiveness. Most English shrines were severely damaged or destroyed during the Dissolution and Reformation, as was the case at St Albans where the shrine of St Alban himself (dating to circa 1302-8) and of St Amphibalus (circa 1350). The fragments of the broken up shrines were used to block up an archway, to be re-discovered during George Gilbert Scott’s restoration of the Cathedral in 1872. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL POST >>>

William Lack ACR

July 23, 2019 by Tony in News 0 comments

It is with great sadness that we have to report that William Lack passed away on the 30th May 2019, aged 74. William was born on 13th April 1945. He took a degree in mathematics and pursued a career as a geologist. He eventually met H.K.Cameron, the renowned monumental brass conservator, via his wife Jenny who was a member of the Monumental Brass Society who had arranged a brass rubbing exhibition in Shrewsbury to raise funds for the Cambridge workshop. Keith Cameron, in his 70s at the time, was looking for the right person to become his apprentice and William soon transpired to be that person. Before long monumental brass conservation had taken over as the day job, and remained William’s career for the rest of his life. This was, of course, tempered with other interests, as William was a real family man – juggling work with bringing up his two daughters whilst Jenny was working as a teacher. He also had an enduring love of old cars and motorsport. William Lack succeeded Les Smith as Hon. Bulletin Editor for the Monumental Brass Society with Bulletin 113 (January 2010) the first to appear under his editorship. He has been […]

Skillingtons shortlisted for National Heritage Award

July 28, 2015 by Tony in News 0 comments

We are delighted to announce that Skillingtons have been shortlisted for the Historic England Angel Awards 2015, in recognition of our work conserving and restoring the Montagu Monuments of St Edmund’s Church, Warkton. Nominated in the Best Craftsmanship category, we will face competition from three other parties who have demonstrated exemplary craftsmanship on a Heritage Rescue. Winners will be announced during an awards ceremony hosted by Andrew Lloyd Webber and supported by the Telegraph which will take place at the Palace Theatre, London on the 7 September. In addition to our nomination in an individual category, Skillingtons are also in the running for another award which you can help us to win – the Historic England followers’ and Telegraph readers’ favourite Award, presented to the project that receives the most public votes. Please show your support for Skillingtons and vote for us by clicking here. Voting closes at midnight on 16 August 2015 and your support at this very exciting time would be very much appreciated. About the project The Montagu monuments, four world-class marble sculptures, are located on the Boughton Estate in St Edmund’s Church, Warkton. For several years the condition of these monuments was found to be deteriorating, […]