01799 584108
At AuraVisions, we are the experts in restoring stained glass windows in churches and cathedrals across Essex. Our church window restoration specialists have extensive experience repairing ancient and medieval glass. We're committed to delivering high-quality workmanship and offer various services, including fitting leaded light windows in churches.
We provide free consultations and conservation reports to help our clients make informed decisions about heritage preservation. Our services include intricate restoration techniques, such as environmentally protective glazing systems, wire guards, polycarbonate protection, ferramenta, and casements. If you need our expertise in Essex, don't hesitate to contact us today.
Restoration Projects
Rayleigh, Essex
The right hand light of this window in the North Aisle, dated c.1878, depicting the bearing of gifts by the Magi, was very badly vandalised, leaving an empty mesh of lead hanging in the stone aperture. Fortunately, the adjacent light had a similar inscription lay out that we were able to use as reference for the leaded design. It took many hours to ‘jigsaw’ the many fragments together in order to create accurate copies. Once all the fragments were assembled, the replacements could be cut and painted, then leaded together to restore the window back to its original appearance. Careful matching of the glass was critical to achieve the correct tonal values of the restored area, especially as it was a large area.
Stanford Le Hope, Essex
As you can see, the severe damage left behind an empty web of lead so all of that glass had to be replaced with kiln-fired glass to match. Once completed, the restored window was fitted back and protected with a stainless steel wire guard.
Lowestoft Town Hall
This set of 3 stunning windows, made in 1855, to celebrate the friendly union between France and Great Britain, was removed to allow them to be repaired and releaded and for protective glazing to be installed. The large West window is entitled ‘Hail Happy Union’. As Dr.Jasmine Allen (curator of The Stained Glass Museum in Ely Cathedral) wrote in her historical report:-
The first Exposition Universelle of 1855, held in Paris, marked the dawn of Napoléon III’s reign as Emperor and became a crucial stage for the performing of French nationalism to an international audience. The Exposition was the centre of expressions of a diplomatic alliance between Britain and France, allies (with Turkey and Sardinia) in the on-going Crimean Campaign against Russia between 1853 and 1856. One of the 1855 stained glass exhibits, a window designed by architect-sculptor John Thomas and exhibited by Ballantine & Allan, celebrated the political alliance and friendly rivalry between Britain and France. The window also revealed the aims and ambitions of its patron, Sir Samuel Morton Peto.
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Lowestoft Town Hall
This large window takes centre stage in the Council Chamber and is set into a wooden frame with external protective glazing. It is flanked in the adjacent walls by 2 other smaller windows of similar quality. It is entitled ‘Hail Happy Union’ .
The imagery and inscriptions, ‘Hail Happy Union’, ‘Forever United’, and ‘Guardians of Europe’ presented an idealised depiction of the Anglo-French alliance of the day (c.1851)
Full View of the West Window
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Queen Victoria and Prince Albert on the right, and Emperor Napoléon and Empress Eugénie on the left. These portraits are enclosed in laurel wreaths and supported by a cherub holding a cornucopia containing symbols of art, music, and industry, reflecting the aims and ideas of the International Exhibitions.
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The medieval tournament of the Field of the Cloth of Gold, depicted in the centre of the window, was a significant event in the history of Anglo-French relations. Taking place in June 1520 in a valley near Calais now known as the Valley d’Or (then English territory), the meeting between Henry VIII, King of England 1509-47, and Francis I, King of France 1515-47, lasted seventeen days and involved competitive jousting, feasting and dancing
In the lower register, the French and British flags, accompanied by a fleur-de-lys sceptre and sword, are crossed in friendship, surmounted by a crown and set against olive branches, symbolic of peace.
Extracts published in: Allen, Jasmine. Windows for the World: Stained Glass and the International Exhibitions 1851-1900 (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2016), pp. 157-160.
Conservation Projects
Matching, Essex
A lawn mower damaged a piece of a red angel's wing. Initially, it was planned to replace the piece entirely, but later, it was decided to infill the missing shell with coloured resin and paint the missing details on top of it. Finally, after conservation, the piece became invisible when surrounded by other heavily painted pieces.
Little Burstead, Billericay, Essex
Vandals damaged an armorial crest in a North Aisle window twice in 2004 and 2006. It is the only ancient piece of glass in the window and was beautifully decorated with fruits and lavish feather plumes. Photographs from 2004 helped in completing the missing piece. The newly painted piece was edge-bonded to the original pieces and back-plated for stability and protection. The finished piece has been repaired and releaded into the body of the window.
Church Window Restoration Specialists At Your Service – Call 01799 584108 For Heritage Preservation.