“On the Middleport Pottery project Ian Clark has demonstrated great strengths in both theory and
application during the design stages. His passionate and pragmatic contribution has surpassed high
expectations”.

Ian became a very supportive and collaborative partner within the project and helped to
deliver very complex and challenging preservation solutions on time and budget.
Advocating and implementing a clear conservation strategy for the built environment is
demanding and sometimes fraught with quantifiable elements but when an architectural
regeneration project is inextricably forged together with in house historic machinery then
a deeper and more focused understanding of how the building synergises with the
machinery is essential.
This project was bold in its aspiration and delivery but by engaging with a specialist
conservation engineering company the complex decisions surrounding the conservation,
preservation and indeed the interpretation of the historic machinery were evaluated and
resolved by promoting an informed and collaborative approach.
Ian worked closely with English Heritage to formulate a conservation policy that was
pragmatic, sensitive and above all deliverable when evaluated against the intellectual,
curatorial and fiscal parameters embedded within the project.

Considering this was a complex and bold conservation project given the direction we as a
client knew we wanted to take. Ian really took the time to listen to us, assimilate all the
information we had gathered and begin to piece together our requirements. From this he
articulated what we as a client were trying to express as a clear vision, from which he
developed an extensive condition assessment which included: a conservation method
statement, treatment methodology, identifying health and safety issues, potential risks, a
basic timescale and budget.
Given Ian extensive experience in industrial conservation he could explain the engineering
and conservation issues involved with a project of this scale and complexity. Critical to this
were the range of solutions he would put forward that we would discuss, which then in turn
informed the direction of the vision. This combination proved critical in boosting my
knowledge as a client to manage the project through to completion. I used the document
produced by Ian throughout the project and found it completely invaluable to ensure I could
articulate the vision to the conservation team who delivered the work. This resulted in the
project being completed to a high quality and standard.

Quilley School of Engineering is a specialist 11-16 school based in Eastleigh,
Hampshire. The school prides itself in creating innovative and engaging projects to
motivate and enthuse pupils to think and respond as engineers.
Ian Clark Restoration supports the school based on the principal of Engineering
Heritage through Education. Ian’s support in advising and demonstrating a range of
industrial skills and techniques was invaluable in one such project - to replicate to
scale the stem section of the RMS Titanic using traditional skills and practices from the
Edwardian period circa 1910-12.
Through a master class in ‘riveting’ pupils were enthralled by the process enabling
them to go to locate steel rivets in the structure at working temperatures in excess of
900’ Celsius.
Ian’s engagement through talks and presentations gave an informed insight into the
importance of industrial heritage for future generations.
Attention to detail, getting things right exemplify Ian’s approach to his passion.
The school continues to work with Ian and is planning more projects and activities to
further the objectives of both Ian Clark restoration and Quilley School of Engineering.

If time, cost and quality are key requirements of any conservation project then Ian Clark scores
exceptionally highly in all three areas. Over the past decade Ian has undertaken a number of important
conservation tasks for the Museum and has always delivered excellent work which given how specialised
industrial conservation is have in my opinion been very good value for money. Most notably Ian worked on
the conservation of historic submarine Holland I launched in 1901: the project went to w in the 2002
Pilgrim Conservation Award.

Without Ian Clark Restoration we couldn’t have done it. I recommend Ian Clark
Restoration without reservation – expert, professional, client-focused, value for
money and, above all, enthusiastic about heritage.”

Ian worked closely with us as a client team always ensuring good communication. His dedication
to detail and quality of finish was astounding and as both an engineer and conservator he is a
perfectionist. The time frame to complete the initial hang was extremely tight and Ian and his
team worked extended hours to ensure the job was completed on time. The casts provide a
classical backdrop to the entire museum and thanks to Ian’s inspired solution they integrate
beautifully with the historic building fabric. We are delighted with the outcome