Historic Stained Glass Conservation & Restoration

Based in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, Matt Nickels provides specialist stained glass conservation, repair and restoration for historic and listed buildings throughout Yorkshire and across the UK.

Matt provides a bespoke service for historic buildings, with an emphasis on quality, value and reassurance. The historic significance and context of both the windows and the building are carefully considered, alongside the materials and techniques used to conserve and repair the stained glass and its surrounding fabric.

Stained Glass Restoration & Repair

Historic stained glass can require anything from small localised repairs to extensive restoration and re-leading. Wherever possible, original glass and historic material are retained, with repairs carried out using appropriate traditional materials and techniques to preserve the character and significance of the window.

Church & Ecclesiastical Stained Glass

Matt has extensive experience working with stained glass in churches and other ecclesiastical buildings. Work can range from inspection, cleaning and minor repairs through to the removal, conservation and reinstatement of historic stained glass windows.

Each project is approached with an understanding of the significance of the glass, its architectural setting and the particular requirements of working within historic places of worship.

Listed Building Stained Glass

Work to stained glass in listed and historic buildings requires careful consideration of both the window and the surrounding architecture. Matt can advise on appropriate approaches to repair and conservation, with an emphasis on retaining original material and avoiding unnecessary intervention.

Stained Glass Cleaning

Historic stained glass can accumulate decades or even centuries of dirt and surface deposits. Appropriate conservation cleaning can greatly improve the appearance and legibility of a window without compromising original glass, painted decoration or historic surfaces.

The condition of the glass is assessed before cleaning so that an appropriate and sensitive method can be selected.

In-situ Repairs

Not every damaged stained glass window needs to be removed from the building. Where appropriate, localised repairs can be undertaken in situ, reducing disturbance to historic fabric and avoiding unnecessary removal of otherwise stable panels.

More extensive work can be carefully removed and undertaken in the workshop before the conserved panels are returned and reinstated.

Painted Glass Conservation & Replication

Painted and stained glass requires particular care, especially where historic painted decoration has become fragile or damaged. Matt can undertake conservation and repair of painted glass and, where necessary, recreate missing or irreparably damaged elements using traditional glass-painting, staining and kiln-firing techniques.

Any replication is approached with consideration for the original design, materials and historic significance of the window.

Metal Casements, Ferramenta & Ironwork

The condition of a stained glass window is closely connected to the structure supporting it. Metal casements, ferramenta, saddle bars, grilles and associated ironwork can all deteriorate and contribute to problems within the glazing.

These elements are considered as part of the overall conservation approach, allowing problems with both the stained glass and its surrounding support systems to be addressed.

Condition Surveys & Conservation Advice

A condition survey can help establish the causes and extent of deterioration before any work is undertaken. Matt can inspect historic stained glass and provide practical conservation advice, helping building owners, custodians, architects and organisations understand the condition of their windows and determine the most appropriate next steps.

For Icon-accredited conservation and very large-scale projects, Matt is also co-director of Northern Lights Stained Glass.

Get in touch to discuss your historic stained glass and find the most appropriate approach for its conservation, repair or restoration.