Issue 40 winter 23 web - Flipbook - Page 8
Enhancing Parliament’s
Encaustic Tiles:
A Decade-Long Journey
Leading UK conservation specialist, DBR (London) Limited, restores the Palace of
Westminster’s iconic 19th century flooring to its original splendour
The Palace of Westminster was built during the Middle
Ages as a royal residence to a number of famous—as well
as infamous—monarchs. Over time, it became a meeting
place for the first members of Parliament, and the first
official Parliament of England, or “Model Parliament”,
conjugated there in 1295.
During the reign of King Henry VIII, a fire ravaged
through the royal apartments, followed by an even greater
fire three centuries later, which destroyed the rebuilt
Houses of Parliament. Only a few notable rooms and
structures survived, including Westminster Hall, Cloisters
Court, the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft and the Jewel
Tower.
Only the very best would do when it came to restoring
the affected areas. Celebrated architect, Charles Barry,
who was known for his use of Italianate architecture, was
selected to bring the landmark back to its former glory.
He chose the talented Gothic Revivalist, Augustus Welby
Northmore Pugin, to focus on the decorative elements,
including the iconic encaustic tiles, the name of which
derives from the Greek word meaning ‘burnt in’, or in this
specific context, ‘inlaid’. As an iconic feature of the building’s interiors, looking after the Palace’s tiling became a
constant task, and they were continually laid and changed
as they became worn or damaged.
In 2010, leading UK conservation specialist, DBR
(London) Limited, was commissioned to carry out a
whole panel replacement trial in a section of St Stephen’s
Hall using a mixture of salvaged and new tiles provided
by Craven Dunnill Jackfield.
After the trial’s success, the company’s talented stone
masons continued the encaustic conservation project
throughout the Palace from 2013 until the end of
the year, when restoration of the entire 1500 square-metre
space, comprising a staggering 50,000 tiles, was finally
completed.