As proud partners of WREN300 Cliveden Conservation is delivering a series of conservation workshops (stone, wood, plaster, metal and glass). Join our team at St Mary Abchurch, Abchurch Lane, City of London, London, EC4N 7BA. for the third in this series which focuses on plaster conservation.
Conservation of Painted Plaster Ceilings
Wednesday 10th May 2023, 10am-12 noon, 1pm-4pm
A ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity to see close up the remarkable painted dome inside one of Wren’s more hidden masterpieces, St Mary Abchurch, situated just off Cannon Street. Using a live feed from a mobile elevated work platform, Cliveden Conservation will show conservation in action to the audience below via display screens. A conservator will also be on the ground giving commentary about the work taking place. This is a unique experience to not only see William Snow’s painting in detail but also to learn about the conservation techniques used in the cleaning and repair of ecclesiastical decorative art.
There will be two opportunities to view the live coverage and learn about two aspects of decorative art conservation. The morning session will focus on plaster conservation and the afternoon session will cover paint conservation.
This will be followed by a demonstration of a HD3D digital survey of the painted dome, and a digital scan of a plaster bust of Sir Christopher Wren completed by Terra Measurement, one of Cliveden Conservation’s partners for the WREN300 programme of works.
Conservators will be on hand throughout the day to talk to visitors about the work taking place. Members of the public, students and conservation professionals are all welcome.
St Mary Abchurch is open to the public Monday to Thursday. To register your interest in attending the free morning or afternoon ‘Conservation of Painted Plaster Ceilings’ sessions (10am-12 noon and 1pm-3pm) please visit.
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST
Plaster Casting and Lime Plaster Workshops
Thursday 11th May 2023, 1pm-4pm
An interactive experience for those wanting to try the art of plaster casting and have a go at lime plastering. This special workshop run by Cliveden Conservation and Locker & Riley, leading fibrous plaster experts, invites visitors to ‘have a go’ at casting decorative details from moulds using plaster, and applying lime plaster to traditional timber lathes Everyone is welcome, no experience is necessary.
Throughout the day, visitors will also be able to see the extraordinary painted dome at St Mary Abchurch close up. Using a live feed from a mobile elevated work platform, Cliveden Conservation will show the techniques being used to conserve the painted dome to the audience below via display screens.
There will also be an opportunity to see the painted dome close up through a HD3D digital survey and a digital scan of a plaster bust of Sir Christopher Wren completed by Terra Measurement, one of Cliveden Conservation’s partners for the WREN300 programme of works.
Conservators will be on hand throughout the day to talk to visitors about the work taking place.
St Mary Abchurch is open to the public Monday to Thursday. To register your interest in attending the free afternoon ‘Plaster Casting and Lime Plaster Workshops’ sessions (1pm-4pm) please visit.
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST
Plaster Conservation Evening
Thursday 11th May, 6pm – 8.30pm
René Rice, Head of Decorative Arts, Cliveden Conservation and Sarah Mayfield, Senior National Conservator, National Trust will speak about historic and decorative plasterwork. Together they will discuss the collaborative relationships between craft practitioners and the architects and engineers who specify specialist conservation methods.
They will also look at the various ways forward in terms of sustainable applications of plaster for our built heritage as we look to maintain and care for our historic buildings in today’s challenging environments. Both René and Sarah will draw upon their comprehensive experiences as practical craftspeople and conservation consultants and reference relevant projects and case studies.
Finish the evening with a glass of wine and see demonstrations of HD3D digital surveys completed as part of the WREN 300 programme. Meet the people behind the current programme of conservation work including Cliveden Conservation and Terra Measurement.
BOOK YOUR TICKET
Would you like to get involved?
Conservation Assistants Volunteers are required to help us in the setting up and smooth running of the WREN300 workshops held in April and May. Job description and more information
Wren300 is a tercentenary celebration of Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723) – Mathematician, Astronomer and one of the country’s most distinguished Architects, best known for the design of many London churches, including St Paul’s Cathedral. The WREN300 Square Mile Churches Project is supported by the Diocese of London, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the City of London Corporation.