Conserving and restoring old windows
There is usually something major amiss with a window before I am asked to tackle it. Broken glass is perhaps the most obvious. The window on the bench above had a gaping hole since the 1960's - which says more about the dwindling membership of small rural churches than anything else. Windows are removed to the studio. They are usually in need of new leads which do become fatigued over time. As much as possible of the original glass is saved - even some that is fractured can be bonded, or leaded. Sometimes a new piece of glass is needed to match the original as closely as possible. This may need repainting and silver staining. New leads are used to the original pattern before soldering and cementing and reinstalling.
St. Michael's Church, Cilycwm.
This pair of Hardiman windows were originally made too large for the openings. The glass borders were trimmed, breaks mended by bonding or leading and new glass cut and painted to replace a large lost piece. The whole window was cleaned, re-leaded and cemented before being replaced in 2016
Converted chapel, Cwmduad
These leaded lights were in poor condition in a disused chapel which was converted to a house. The panels were originally to be mounted in the window reveals but were finally used as screens in the upstairs gallery rooms. The glass was cleaned and re-leaded with new matching glass cut to replace damaged pieces in 2015.