Conservation & Heritage Issue 49 October 2025 - Flipbook - Page 20
WRIGHTS OF LYMM LTD:
ROYAL WARR ANT HOLDERS
Supplying Britain’s Heritage with Gold Leaf since 1840
Tucked away in the historic Cheshire village of Lymm is a company whose work has adorned
some of Britain’s most treasured buildings, artworks, and monuments, but its reputation in
the world of gilding is anything but modest. Renowned for producing the finest gold leaf
and gilding materials, the firm stands today as a living link between heritage craftsmanship
and contemporary.
The story of Wrights of Lymm stretches back to 1840,
when William Wright began a goldbeating workshop
in the heart of London. By around 1870, the workshop
relocated to Manchester where curious passers by could peer
through the cellar grille to watch the goldbeaters at work.
Following World War 1, Wrights of Lymm expanded its
offerings to include signwriting brushes, paints and other
decorators essentials, becoming a household name within
the decorating, signwriting and monumental mason trades,
and then eventually settling where they still reside today in
Lymm, Cheshire.
In the 20th century, another family firm, C. F. Stonehouse
& Sons, emerged in 1936 with its own expertise in
manufacturing gold leaf. The two companies eventually
became entwined and in 1980, Wrights of Lymm merged
with the Stonehouse family business, ensuring that both
legacies lived on.
Today, Wrights of Lymm is run by the Stonehouse
family, with Clive Stonehouse as Managing Director.
His commitment to traditional craft methods combined
with modern standards has kept Wrights of Lymm at the
forefront of a highly specialised industry.
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Crafting Perfection, One Leaf at a Time
Producing Gold leaf is an art of precision and patience,
the oldest dating back to Egyptian times, around 2600BC.
Each leaf must be beaten to a thickness of less than one tenthousandth of a millimetre, so delicate that it drifts in the
slightest breeze. Wrights of Lymm specialises in a wide range
of carats, from 24ct gold down to 6ct white gold, along with
palladium, silver and other specialist metal leaves.
Their Gold Leaf graces Palaces, Cathedrals, Historic house,
monuments and memorials, projects where durability
and authenticity are paramount. They are used in the
conservation of historic landmarks, in fine art restoration,
and in decorative projects around the world. From gilded
domes to lettering on memorials, Wrights’ materials ensure
a finish that endures.
A Royal Seal of Approval
In May 2025, Wrights of Lymm was awarded a Royal
Warrant of Appointment by His Majesty King Charles III,
cementing its place among Britain’s most trusted
traditional suppliers. For a company with such deep
historical roots, the warrant is both an honour and a
recognition of the uncompromising standards that have
guided its work for generations.
Conservation & Heritage Journal
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