Join us at The Suffolk Show on Tuesday 31st May & Wednesday 1st June Stand 697
Restoration Hub Stand 697
The Suffolk Show’s very own ‘repair shop,’ where skilled craftspeople have come together to work and demonstrate in one extraordinary space.
A collaboration of talented and passionate restorers celebrating the value and appeal of craft and handwork. Visit the ‘hub’ to see the restorers bringing loved pieces such as furniture, rugs, ceramics, glass, books, saddles and upholstery, back to life. A perfect opportunity to chat with the experts and seek advice about any cherished objects that need restoring.
Demonstrations & advice throughout the show
Meet the Restorers
Hythe Conservation
Hythe Conservation is dedicated to the conservation and restoration of ceramics (pottery and porcelain) and other decorative objects including, but not limited to, glass, enamel, plaster and stone. Additional services listed on their website, including object condition checking and collection cataloguing.
Harriet Sylvester is qualified in Ceramic Conservation and Restoration. In September 2020, Harriet set up Hythe Conservation and works from her studio in Woodbridge, Suffolk, alongside working as a nationwide freelancer.
Harriet completed her Undergraduate Degree in Conservation and Restoration at the University of Lincoln. She spent two years at the internationally recognised West Dean College of Arts and Conservation, achieving a Masters Degree in Conservation Studies specialising in ceramics and glass.
A German Art Deco style 1930s dancing figure.
www.hytheconservation.co.uk info@hytheconservation.co.uk Instagram Facebook
Binding Arrangement 
Binding Arrangement was set up by Colin Brown after graduating in England in 1988, when he began binding and conserving books and archives for private collectors and antiquarian bookshops.
Expanding, Binding Arrangement moved to Mistley Quay Workshops on the picturesque Essex/Suffolk border. Colin also began teaching bookbinding for Adult Education and branched out into library conservation work.
He conserved collections in National Trust libraries around England, rebound much of the Daily Telegraph’s dilapidated library 19th century collection and began an ongoing conservation programme on Christies’ archives in London.
In 2005 Colin moved to Adelaide, South Australia where as senior book conservator at Artlab, he supervised the conservation of the State’s Library, museums and gallery book collections around the country. Artlab also attracted work from outside Australia which gave Colin the opportunity to work on books such as a valuable Islamic manuscript from Yogyakarta Museum, Indonesia.
Moving back to Europe, Colin restarted his private conservation work and set up a workshop in the South West of France, working for French collectors, university libraries and local councils.
Late in 2011, he returned to England where he relocated Binding Arrangement to its current location, at Cuckoo Farm Studios in Colchester. In 2017, 2018 and 2019 Colin also worked as a Book and Manuscript Conservator for Corpus Christi Conservation Consortium at Cambridge University.
Colin continues to bind and restore books and archives on an individual basis; each book is lovingly given a new lease of life, treated sympathetically using traditional materials and techniques.
Restoration of Inquiries into Truths – 1646 –
Images show various stages of restoration
- Book before treatment
- Consolidate & build up of frayed and worn corners corners.
- Sewn books onto the cards, ready to be attached to the the covers, threading the cords through the boards.
- New pastedown, retaining the original autographed pasted down paper.
- New calf leather corners and spine, with gold tooled label.
www.bindingarrangement.co.uk 07440 158361 b.arrangement@hotmail.com
Rowley Saddlery
Coralie Cheung loved horses since she was a child and has always enjoyed any kind of craft work, so becoming a saddler was the perfect career choice. Coralie attended Cordwainers College in Hackney in the early ‘90s where she learned skills for making saddles, bridles and harnesses.
After 4 years at Cordwainers she went to work for Pryors of Cambridge in New Zealand. Horses are still used there on the mountainous sheep stations so they often filled a four seater plane with saddles and flew to saddle fits!
A few years later Coralie trained with Richard Godden, a side saddle maker of distinction, who was apprenticed to Champion and Wilton Oxford Street in the ‘50s. They sadly closed their doors in 1960.
For the last 12 years she has been focused solely on restoring, making and fitting side saddles. Coraline’s work is traditional and she really enjoy the history and integrity of side saddle riding. Her work has been exhibited at some wonderful locations, including The V & A Museum, Burberry, The Guildhall London, Saddlers Hall and Leather Sellers Hall London. And now The Suffolk Show!
Coraline is really excited to display some interesting old saddles and their components and to demonstrate some of the skills of side saddle restoration.
coralie.chung@btinternet.com 07876 266404
Clive Beardall Restorations Ltd
Clive Beardall Restorations Ltd is one of the leading furniture restoration companies in the Essex area, specialising in the conservation and restoration of furniture from the 17th through to the 20th century. With a comprehensive range of services available, their team are on hand to ensure that your antique furniture retains its natural charm.
They are a small firm of experienced craftsmen dealing with all aspects of the antique trade. Their experience can help to guide you and allow you to discover the true value of your antiques and the cost of restoration. This high quality service has resulted in many prestigious commissions and a first class reputation among their clients.
The showroom is situated in front of the workshop – this is an ideal opportunity to view a varied selection of excellent quality 18th through to 20th century furniture for sale, including the pieces that have been restored in their workshop.
They are accredited members of the British Antique Furniture Restorers Association and their workshop is included on the Conservation Register.
Restoration: William IV Gonzales Alves Davenport
www.clivebeardall.co.uk 01621 857890 info@clivebeardall.co.uk
The Chair Man
Jamie Atkinson is a master upholsterer providing traditional and modern upholstery, caning and rush seating. He undertakes frame repairs and leather restoration and can also can make bespoke headboards and footstools to a customer’s design.
His passion is for traditional upholstery using natural materials, rescuing and restoring loved or found chairs and sofas.
- Victorian prie dieu upholstered in a check wool fabric
- Oversized Ottoman upholstered in Santana by Jane Churchill
- Wing back chair with ball and claw feet, upholstered in Cole and Fowler fabric
Instagram jmeatkinson@gmail.com
The Barn at Crow Hall, Crow Hall Lane, Bradfield< Essex CO11 2XA
07467 021801
The Rug & Carpet Studio
The Rug & Carpet Studio is a leading UK centre of excellence in the restoration, cleaning and conservation of handmade Oriental rugs and carpets, French Aubusson and Axminster carpets.
They have an international client base, including historic properties, museums and private owners. Their experienced conservator-restorers offer broad ranging treatment options for functional rugs and those on display, including robust repairs, support treatment and preventive advice. All of the restoration and conservation work is carried out by hand at their Studio in Long Melford.
Many of the rugs which The Rug and Carpet Studio treats are functional objects which need to be restored to continue their use as floor based textiles. The workshop carries out the restoration of minor splits and wear, through to extensive re-weaving of large holes. Thorough research is carried out into the various techniques used to ensure minimum intervention with the structure of the carpet, and to retain as much of the original textile as possible. A vast stock of threads and fabrics ensure precise fibre, texture and colour matching to the original materials. The conservator-restorers are highly trained and skilled in all aspects of rug and carpet restoration, both in the understanding of the weaving and in the finishing of the restored area.
The restorers adhere to continuous professional development guidelines from organisations such as The Institute of Conservation and The British Antique Furniture Restorers Association.
Re-weaving a hole in a Persian Bidjar carpet
www.rugandcarpetstudio.co.uk restoration@rugandcarpetstudio.co.uk 01787 882214
