Bolney, Sussex — Historic Oak Frames, Wrought Iron and Matching Glass

A Grade II listed farmhouse in the village of Bolney, West Sussex presented a conservation challenge typical of vernacular historic buildings: original leaded light casements set in oak frames with wrought iron stays and fasteners, where the glass, lead, timber, and ironwork had all deteriorated at different rates and required coordinated conservation treatment.

Surrey Leaded Lights undertook a comprehensive survey of all windows, assessing the condition of each pane, the lead came, the oak frames, and the wrought iron furniture. Where glass was cracked or missing, matching antique and period glass was sourced to preserve the visual character of the windows — avoiding the uniformity of modern float glass which would have compromised the building's historic appearance. Lead cames were releaded where the calmes had fatigued, and the oak frames were conserved and reglazed.

The wrought iron stays and fasteners — themselves historic artefacts — were cleaned, treated, and retained wherever possible, avoiding unnecessary replacement. The completed windows were pointed with lime-based putty appropriate to the historic construction. The project exemplifies Surrey Leaded Lights' holistic approach to window conservation, treating the window as a complete historic assembly rather than addressing the glass in isolation.