top of page

Verderers Court, Forest of Dean 2023

Verderers Nathan.jpg

TRADITIONAL GLAZIERS

LEADED LIGHT MAKERS IN THE WEST COUNTRY

Artisans making and conserving leaded lights for churches, stately homes, manor houses, cottages and other properties of character from the 16th century onwards. This type of glazing is also known as quarries or plain glazing. It is an important form of traditional glazing from the Tudor period onwards, although it is often overshadowed by the more elaborate and colourful glazing form of stained glass. Stonecroft specialises in re-conditioning and installing historic casement windows and their fixtures as well as fixed lights. This could involve repairing a few diamond quarries in situ or extensive studio work.

​

The Stonecroft philosophy is to maintain the integrity of a building by conserving glass, lead and metalwork and making new lights by taking a historical approach. This means taking into consideration the original materials and techniques in all conservation work undertaken.

MOUTH-BLOWN ANTIQUE GLASS

Contemporary mouth-blown glass made by St Just - France, Tatra-Poland, Lamberts-Germany and English Antique- England, using medieval techniques.

Clears and tints are subtle in their colour, typically there are many whites, greens and blues. Textures vary; from very little movement to subtle ripples to strong striations, from lightly seeded to heavily seeded. All these varaitions are what gives the antique glass the sparkle and movement and sets it apart from rolled glass and float glass.

​

They select glass to match original glass from sample sets and also have a library of salvaged glass mainly from the 18th and 19th century for conservation work.

la+verriere+provence+house+hire+glassblowing.png

LEAD CALMS (CAMES)

Lead calms (cames) are milled in a variety of profiles for historic glazing. Stonecroft order both standard and bespoke high quality lead calms from lead makers in England (est. in 1770) and from Germany. New lead is matched to the profile of the original leads in 

conservation work.

​

Diamond and rectangular quarries are the typical pattern of leaded lights.There are also more intricate historic patterns which can be re-created. We have resources to consult including a glazing book from the 17th century, which details a beautiful collection of leaded lights designs.

We can also offer plain glazing with the addition of painted roundels of historic design.

​

Grade listed buildings and churches require a historic approach in selecting the correct design scheme for new windows. of leaded lights.

detail-of-stone-framed-church-window-with-diamond-leaded-panes,2039970.jpg

METALWORK

Re-conditioning metal frames, saddle bars, stanchions and all ferramenta, protecting them from further corrosion and insuring the full function of the window . This includes Tudor metalwork through to contemporary reproduction. Iron corrosion is a problem and when frames are in a very poor condition we can address this by removing them and shot blasting and powder-coating them and re-installing them so they are given a new lease of life in the building. It is also sometimes necessary to re-tip iron stanchions to protect stonework.

17 WG11 copy_edited.jpg

MORTAR

Traditional fixed leaded lights are often set in stonework and require mortar pointing. At Stonecroft we create mortar mixes using the highest quality materials to match existing stonework. We have mortar samples and create new ones if needed and sometimes work to a mix specified by architects or building professionals.

Special-Medium-Small_edited.png
bottom of page