Window Restoration, Toll House.

Following on from the vandalism that took place at the Museum in 2021, after which temporary modern glass was put in to the affected buildings, these are gradually being restored.

We are really pleased that it is now the turn for the Toll House windows to be restored, therefore this delightful building will be closed to visitors to the Museum on the Weeks commencing 15th May and 22nd May 2023.

Although the building will be closed to visitors whilst work is being undertaken, for the next couple of weeks, for which we appreciate your understanding, the project presents an exciting opportunity to witness restoration in action from a safe distance.

The Toll House’s window frames are currently being restored by joiners experienced working with historic and listed buildings.

The work is being undertaken in-situ to limit the scope for damage to the windows or the building itself, with traditional techniques and materials being used. As much of the original frames are being retained as possible, with heavily eroded sections being carefully removed before new timber is added.

Once the joiners have restored the window frames, a heritage glazer will begin to replace the modern safety glass, installed as an interim measure following vandalism to the building and wider Museum in 2021, with heritage glass appropriate to the building’s period setting.

The  joiner will be repairing the frames of the Toll House windows and then traditional glazer Ben Sinclair glazier will come the following week after to replace the glass.

BEN SINCLAIR is a traditional glazier working in building restoration. He runs Norgrove Studios, whose work involves new and restored stained glass and historic plain glass restoration and facsimile.

Ben says “Perhaps the most noticeable and yet misunderstood feature of a historic building is that of its glass and the way that glass influences both the atmosphere and ambience of the building.

The influence of glass can be seen both internally and externally, working in a reflective and refractive capacity. Externally, the reflective quality of glass will be most noticeable, varying from the crude slab-like appearance of float glass to the subtle shimmer of period cylinder or crown glass. Internally, handmade glass will influence the softness and warmth of incoming light, as well as the appearance of external views through that glass. The difference between a cold clinical light seen through modern float glass and a warm refracted light through early Victorian cylinder glass is profound”.