Conservation & Heritage Issue 50 Winter 2025/Spring 2026 - Flipbook - Page 60
TRINITY COLLEGE,
CAMBRIDGE – DINING HALL
We were fortunate to be invited to work on the myriad heraldic stained glass windows in
the Dining Hall at Trinity College, Cambridge that took up most of 2024. The 2 Oriel
windows comprise 85+ 16thC panels, whilst the 2 side elevations of over 30 large, highly
coloured 19thC designs.
The surprising find was that, although the deterioration of
the 16thC shields was to be expected, the 19thC glass had
been adversely affected by the open-weave cloth covering
used to prevent glass shrapnel dispersal from potential bomb
blasts during WWII. This left the windows with a hessianstyle corrosion pattern across all the painted surfaces, which,
sadly, was irreversible. Happily, no bombs did drop nearby
but a lesson learnt !!
were of thin bars that hid neatly from view in the silhouette
of the lead work.
A much-prized panel of the West Oriel window is of ‘Ricardus
Dux’ (Richard II - see fig.3). The figure was complete, so
all that was required was to set it within a scheme of EPG
(Environmentally Protective Glazing) where the ancient
glass is fitted forward into the building with protective
glazing replacing it within the original glazing grooves and
a vented gap between them. This protects the delicate glass
from thermal shock, external impact and condensation,
preserving it for the future.
The 19thC panels depict the arms of those connected to the
college (see fig.1). Many of these had bowed and cracked and
needed releading (see fig.4). To prevent future distortion, we
fitted these with bespoke support frames (see fig.2). These
Below, exterior of The Waterman,
photography by Martina Ferrera
fig.4
fig.1
fig.2
fig.3
STAINED GLASS & LEADED LIGHT SPECIALISTS
CLEANING, REPAIRS, RESTORATION & CONSERVATION
SURVEYS & REPORTS
www.auravisions.co.uk | auravisions@gmail.com
01799 584108
I
Conservation & Heritage Journal
58
I
