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.
Pow - Sovereign's Robing Room
Conservation Works
1 / 3
Within an interior shaped by ceremony and symbolism, every surface spoke of craftsmanship. Carved woodwork shimmered beneath layers of gilding, painted decoration enriched the walls, and figures in stone, glass, and metal gathered as silent witnesses to the room’s purpose. Time had not dimmed its splendour entirely, but it had softened details, dulled finishes, and left fragile elements in need of careful attention.
DBR London was commissioned to undertake essential conservation works, including substantial regilding and the repair of ornate interior fabric, an intervention aimed at preserving both beauty and meaning.
Client
Palace of Westminster
Palace of Westminster Parliamentary Estates Directorate
Dates
July 2014
—
February 2015
Location
Westminster
Grade listing
Grade I
Architects
Donald Insall Architects
Revealing the Work Beneath the Ornament
The process began with the careful cleaning of carved woodwork, polychrome decoration, and existing gilding. Layers of dust and surface deposits were removed using methods tailored to each material, revealing colours and details that had long been obscured. Where gilded areas had deteriorated, repairs and regilding restored continuity without overwhelming surviving historic finishes.
At lower levels, joinery elements such as doors and window sills were repaired or replaced where necessary, then French polished to revive the depth and warmth of the timber.
Restoring the Details of Daily Use
Even the functional elements of the room were treated as part of its decorative whole. Damaged ventilation grilles were replaced, flocked wallpaper was gently cleaned, and stone surrounds to doors and windows were repaired and refreshed. Brass door rosettes were redecorated and polished, returning their reflective brilliance while respecting their age.
These quieter interventions ensured that everyday wear no longer detracted from the room’s overall harmony.
Tending the Hearth and Its Guardians
The ornate fireplace, a focal point within the space, received particular care. Its surfaces were cleaned and consolidated, stabilising areas weakened by heat and time. Two fire-gilt brass figures, St George and St Michael, were conservation-cleaned, their luminous surfaces revealed once more.
Nearby, twenty-four carved and gilded polychrome statuettes of Anglo-Saxon princesses underwent detailed conservation. Each figure was assessed individually, with cleaning and repair carried out in accordance with conservation reports to preserve both structure and painted finish.
Light Through Fragile Colour
Painted glazing within the room, some panels cracked or unstable, was carefully cleaned and repaired. The work restored both the structural integrity of the glass and the clarity of the imagery, allowing light to interact with the interior as originally intended.
The completed work revived the room’s original character, clarifying its colours and forms while preserving the craftsmen’s intent. DBR London’s careful conservation ensured the historic interior continues to express devotion, authority, and artistry, its splendour sustained for future visitors.
