Please fill in the form below and we will get back to you.
Alternatively email us at info@dbrlimited.com or for urgent enquiries call us on 020 7277 7775.
Palace of Westminster
Chancellors Court
1 / 2
Within the enclosed calm of Chancellors Court, conservation could not begin with assumption. The courtyard’s historic surfaces, confined setting, and constant use demanded that any intervention be proven safe before it was applied in full. In 2005, DBR was commissioned to undertake cleaning trials here under the direction of Adriel Consultancy, testing how best to remove accumulated dirt while preserving the underlying fabric.
The trials were completed successfully, providing early evidence that careful cleaning could be achieved without damage.
Client
Palace of Westminster Parliamentary Estates Directorate
Dates
Until 2013
Location
Westminster
Grade listing
Grade I
Architects
Donald Insall Architects
Returning with a Wider Purpose
In 2013, DBR returned to Chancellors Court under the direction of Donald Insall Associates and Buro 4 to carry out a broader programme of cleaning and repair trials. These were designed not only to test effectiveness, but to understand the practical realities of working within the courtyard environment, noise levels, access constraints, sequencing, and potential disruption to surrounding activities.
Designed access scaffolding was erected to reach the required areas safely, enabling a combination of cleaning methods and localised masonry repairs to be trialled under realistic site conditions.
Measuring the Impact, Not Just the Result
Each trial area was closely monitored and documented. The performance of cleaning techniques, the compatibility of repair materials, and the effectiveness of protective measures were all assessed. Detailed reports were produced to capture findings, including recommended methodologies and procedures for safeguarding the surrounding fabric during future works.
The process generated knowledge rather than visible transformation, an essential step in responsible conservation.
Preparing the Ground for Consensus
Recognising that projects of this nature involve many interested parties, DBR also prepared a Stakeholder Engagement Document. This material helped communicate the aims, methods, and anticipated impacts of the proposed works, ensuring that those connected to the site understood both the necessity and the care behind the interventions.
Chancellors Court appeared unchanged after the trials, yet its conservation path was fully defined. Methods were tested, risks anticipated, and procedures refined. The key achievement was knowledge gained, creating a secure foundation for the conservation work to follow.
