Issue 41 Spring web - Flipbook - Page 76
Conservation of the
iron gateway lantern
Greyfriars House is a late medieval Merchant’s House, a two-storey, timber-framed building on Friar
Street in the centre of the city of Worcester.
The house and garden are owned by the National Trust.
The gated carriage entrance is illuminated by an ornate
iron lantern that was in some need of cleaning and repair.
Peter Meehan ACR, a metals’ conservator working in
private practice, was originally asked by the property’s
House and Collections Manager to prepare a detailed
condition report on the lantern as part of their ongoing
care of the property’s collections.
and at this point the property was divided into two. From
this point on until the early 20th century it had a mixed
use of shops, dwellings and other businesses. During this
period, it saw several alterations and extensions to accommodate those living and working there. In the early 19th
century, a number of small cottages were built in the back
garden. By the 1930’s the property was in decline with the
timber work decaying, having been abandoned and was
served with a compulsory demolition order by Worcester
City Corporation in 1936. The start of WWII prevented
this plan, and it was subsequently purchased by
Greyfriars House was built in 1490 by a wealthy city merchant, Thomas Green, and remained a family home for
some 200 years. A lease was sold to a local baker in 1699
Above, the lantern after re-hanging at Greyfriars following completion of the conservation works.
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Conservation & Heritage Journal
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