Georgian Splendour and Conservation and Repair of Sash Windows

After a very difficult 2020 and early 2021 with project work being cancelled and postponed due to COVID-19, work is picking up with a pace.

We have just started condition survey of mid eighteenth to mid nineteenth century sash windows and external doors on a large grade II* Georgian house.

Our consultancy work includes condition survey, scheduling and specifying traditional joinery repairs, removing poorly executed past repairs, removing modern alkyd resin paints, and redecorating with linseed oil paints. As part of this work the windows will be made fully operational with options to improve engird efficiency by minimising drafts.

Conservation and repair works will be tendered over the next few months for a site based project commencing in July this year. Work has included architectural paint analysis to clarify chronology and early and historically significant decoration schemes.

Statement of Significance for a Victorian Public Urinal

We're busy working on what is turning out to be a fascinating project; researching and writing a Statement of Significance for a disused late Victorian public urinal.  Research indicates public urinals were once widespread in London in the second half of the nineteenth century, but this appears to be one of the last remaining examples.  We can't wait to discover more about this!

Guest Tutor on a Mortars Technology Course

Graham has been invited to present a lecture on mortar technology and the comparison of historic mortars with contemporary lime mortars on the Mortars Course at West Dean College in November 2018. Find out more here.

Building Recording and Condition Survey of Victorian Public Urinals

We have an unusual project! We have been commissioned to carry out building recording work, historical research and condition survey of Victorian Urinals in East London which are no longer in use. An interesting project for us as it is a field of work we have never encountered before.

Completion of the Reinstatement of the Historic Drinking Fountain at St Pancras International Station

Work has recently been completed on site to repair and conserve the Victorian drinking fountain which included bringing it back into use as a public drinking water supply. Ingram Consultancy were appointed as the designer and conservation advisor working on behalf of the client. It has been inspiring to see a piece of history being restored back to its original use of providing drinking water to the public. 

Graham Abrey appointed as Course Leader & Tutor for the West Dean Conservation and Masonry Ruins Course

Graham’s commission includes developing new and updated course content with fellow tutors, with lectures and practical workshops on soft capping to masonry walls, grouting, mortars technology including earth mortars, consolidation, recording and conservation principles and ethics. Find out more here.

Investigating Extreme Salt Decay to the Portland-Purbeck Spiral Stair

Our work continues investigating and monitoring extreme salt related decay to a Portland-Purbeck limestone spiral stair in an early eighteenth century church tower.   The stair has seen approximately 30mm of stone loss over approximately 20 years, caused by exposure to marine salts and significant change in the internal environment within the tower.  Monitoring work continues so that we can understand the point when decay has reached a new equilibrium so that conservation, repair and partial replacement can proceed.  Decay on this scale is highly unusual and presents unique conservation challenges!

Conservation and Reconstruction of a Ruined Eighteenth Century Garden Building

Following recent archaeological excavation work to discover a missing 'Thatched House' in the landscaped gardens of a large eighteenth century house, Ingram Consultancy have been appointed to look at the feasibility for exposing, conserving and re-presenting the site.

Our work has included investigating the original building form and materials, and recreating the Thatched House design based on site archaeology and historical sketches.  We are also preparing options for presenting the site to visitors and possibly reconstructing the building from the exposed ruins.   An incredibly interesting and rewarding experience - watch this space!