Surveys

We frequently carry out condition surveys of collections, followed by detailed, prioritised recommendations for treatment and estimates for the work.  We can tailor our survey to suit your collection and your budget, and can assist in mapping out a long-term programme of care.

Please take a look at some examples below:

MONUMENTS AT THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER

Client: The Palace of Westminster

Location: Central London

We carried out a conservation survey of monuments, statuary and fountains in the care of the Palace of Westminster, with recommendations for their conservation and maintenance.

INTERIOR SCULPTURE IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS

Client: The Palace of Westminster

Location: Central London

We carried out a full survey and maintenance cleaning of interior sculpture in the Norman Porch, the Queen's Robing Room, the Prince's Chamber and the Royal Gallery. As these rooms are frequently in use, our timetable was carefully arranged to avoid disruption. The survey covered marble busts and a large marble group, oak relief panels, electrotype relief panels, gilded Caen stone sculptures and bronzes.  


We supplied recommendations for their conservation and maintenance and also produced visual glossaries of deterioration phenomena to assist those who may carry out the future maintenance of the objects to identify problems.

PROMINENT PUBLIC SCULPTURE IN LONDON

Client: English Heritage

Location: Central London

We were commissioned to provide a full condition survey of all forty-seven of the public sculptures and monuments in central London which were at that time in the care of English Heritage. The survey included specifications for conservation, where required, and maintenance treatments and frequency.

We used our own design of database to hold all this information and to produce the reports for the Client in PDF format.

Our database could be further developed in the future into bespoke software for managing the care of large collections such as this.

CITY OPEN SPACES

Client: The City of London Corporation

Location: Throughout the City of London

Survey of 170 City Open Spaces to identify and report on significant objects found (such as plaques, tombstones, statuary, memorials and ironwork), followed by detailed advice including priorities for treatment and ongoing monitoring and care regimes for the objects found. We also wrote a full conservation policy document for ironwork. We advised on which spaces might be improved and alerted the Client to any Health & Safety concerns found.

IRONWORK BY SKIDMORE IN LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL

Client: Robert Kilgour Associates

Location: Staffordshire

We carried out a condition survey of the Victorian ironwork by Skidmore at Lichfield Cathedral, including the nave screen, pulpit and stairs, aisle gates, choir stall fronts and mace stands.

We then produced proposals and budget costings for the analysis of the paint scheme, and for surface cleaning and repairs.

PUBLIC SCULPTURE IN THE CITY OF LONDON

Client: The City of London Corporation

Location: Throughout the City of London

We carried out a full condition survey of all the public sculpture, memorials, fountains, drinking fountains and plaques within the City of London, and within City properties elsewhere in London, including Epping Forest and Hampstead Heath.

We provided detailed information and photographs and input this information into a bespoke database that we developed to hold all the data we gathered. The collation of such essential data into a manageable form proves invaluable in the management of the conservation and ongoing maintenance of such a large collection.

SURVEY OF POLICE CALL POSTS

Client: The City of London Corporation

Location: Throughout the City of London

We carried out a condition survey of the eight remaining cast-iron Police Call Posts in the City, with a full conservation plan for the restoration and maintenance of all the posts, including the replacement of all missing parts.

These were manufactured in the early 1930's by British Ericsson and ceased to be used in the 1960's. The upper hatch opened to give access to the telephone; the middle door opened horizontally to provide a writing surface and the larger, lower storage cupboard contained first aid kit etc. The posts allowed the public to call the Police station and were also used for the station to contact the officer on the beat by flashing the red signal light.

We subsequently fully restored all the posts. (More…)

PUBLIC ART AT CANARY WHARF

Client: 'Public Art at Canary Wharf'

Location: Canary Wharf, London

We carried out a straightforward survey of the majority of the modern, public sculpture  around Canary Wharf, with details of current condition and recommendations for future maintenance.

ST ANDREW'S CHURCH METALWORK

Client: Ferry and Mennim Architects

Location: Weaverthorpe, Yorkshire

We carried out a condition survey of all the interior and exterior metalwork of the church, including screens, pulpit, lectern, interior and exterior door furniture and floor grilles, for a National Heritage Lottery Grant application.

Paint analysis was carried out to samples taken from the door furniture to try to establish the original paint scheme.

PUBLIC SCULPTURE IN THE ROYAL PARKS, LONDON

Client: The Royal Parks Agency and Carillion Services Ltd

Location: Central London

Full condition survey of the sculptures, war memorials and monuments within Green Park, Greenwich Park, Canning Green, Poets Corner, St James's Park and Victoria Tower Gardens. Our survey included full condition reports and recommendations for conservation and maintenance regimes.

We developed a bespoke database to hold all this information and to produce the reports in PDF format. The database also produces maintenance schedules and annual budgets.

WAR MEMORIALS IN THE LEEDS AREA

Client: English Heritage

Location: Leeds city centre and surrounding villages

We provided a full condition survey of prominent war memorials in the Leeds area with recommendations for their conservation. We subsequently conserved this memorial in Calverley (pictured left, before conservation). More… 

PUBLIC SCULPTURE IN BIRMINGHAM

Client: Cliveden Conservation Workshops, for Birmingham City Council

Location: Birmingham City Centre

In conjunction with Cliveden Conservation Workshops (stone conservators) we carried out a full survey of all the public sculpture in Birmingham City Centre, to assist the Client to develop a conservation and maintenance programme for all the public monuments in their care.