Our Origins
Skillington Workshop Ltd. was founded by Dr David Carrington in 1997 in the Lincolnshire village from which it takes its name. We are now based in Grantham, but work all over the UK and internationally.
Our Focus
Our focus is on heritage conservation, repair and maintenance (as opposed to new-build construction). We are primarily concerned with achieving the highest standards in the sympathetic care of historic fabric and in preserving authenticity, using traditional techniques and materials combined with modern solutions. We enjoy the challenge of complex problems and pride ourselves on finding the best and most appropriate methods for tackling conservation problems – large or small – that ensures a better future for the historic fabric we care about.
We are trusted to conserve, stabilise, display and move invaluable objects, and are recognised experts in disaster recovery procedures. We also understand historic settings and design, and take commissions for new additions to complement historic places. Our work here has included the making of commemorative memorials, plaster ceilings and wall decorations, new flooring, and sculpture and other decorative stonework
Our Philosophy
Skillingtons’ philosophy remains to achieve sensitive, sympathetic, and holistic conservation and restoration solutions that use traditional materials and practices merged with the best of modern technical understanding and methods.
Skillingtons champions traditional craft skills, and is known for its faithfulness to the Arts & Crafts principles of conservation originally developed by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings and others in the 19th century. We set ourselves the highest standards, always harnessing best practice, quality materials and skilled expertise to achieve the best and most sustainable results.
We take a holistic view to the care of old buildings, monuments and objects, paying attention to both wider environmental factors, pragmatic need and usage factors, and specific material and technique choices. Our team are passionate about working with their hands in traditional ways that foster a sense of wellbeing and pride as well as achieving outstanding results.
Our Work
Our work is immersed in developments in survey techniques, conservation science, academic research, and internationally-approved updates to conservation policy, philosophy and practice. As such, it prioritises full understandings of historic fabric, based on meticulous materials analysis and testing.
As experts in our field, we are trusted with access to some of the most amazing heritage in the UK and beyond. From looking after individuals’ beloved homes, to sustaining the nation’s churches and cathedrals, palaces, public buildings, and the invaluable monuments, sculpture, and collections around the country and in museum collections, Skillingtons enjoys a firmly established reputation at the forefront of excellent heritage conservation practice.
We work for both private and public clients, and take a flexible approach to whether our clients prefer discretion or enjoy media attention.