Dr. Alison Gilchrist ACR

York

More Info

Projects

Lichfield Cathedral, Staffordshire: Conserving and Protecting the ‘Herkenrode’ Windows

Completed: January 2015 View Case Study

Stow Minster, Lincolnshire: Restoring the West window

Completed: June 2017 View Case Study

All Saints Church, Low Catton, York: Conserving and Protecting the Morris Company East Window

Completed: November 2011 View Case Study

About Me

I am an accredited stained glass conservator at Barley Studio, York, with 10 years of studio experience since completing my studies at the University of York (during which I was awarded the inaugural Nicholas Barker prize for my dissertation research). As the specialist conservator within the Barley Studio team, working alongside Managing Director and Head Conservator Keith Barley, I have responsibility for ensuring that all conservation work is carried out fully and documented appropriately.

As a conservator my aim is to make a difference to the objects in our care, either now or for the future; to clean, to improve the appearance if possible and appropriate, to preserve from future deterioration through the installation of environmental protection. I undertake glazing surveys, giving advice on the care of stained glass in private collections, churches and cathedrals across the UK. Since 2017 I have been a member of the Stained Glass Committee of the Church Buildings Council.

Working at Barley Studio I have had the privilege to work on many interesting projects, from individual windows in homes and parish churches to major historic glazing schemes, including the world-famous sixteenth-century ‘Herkenrode’ glass at Lichfield Cathedral and the beautiful fourteenth-century glass of St Denys' Church in York.

Client Testimonials

I have really valued the expertise and advice of Barley Studio, and look forward to working with them on future projects. I often recommend them as the preferred specialist for historic glazing repair.

Christopher Cotton, Purcell

Cathedral Architect for Durham Cathedral

We were very pleased with all aspects of Barley Studio's work ... representatives made significant efforts with the church officers to explain to them the conservation process, and went as far as inviting members of the church congregation to their workshops to see work in progress. The quality of the work was absolutely superb.

Kevin Atkinson

Churchwarden, St Lawrence's Church York

We discussed at length the philosophical approach to all aspects of proposed conservation so as to retain not only the glass, but as much of the lead work as possible…. The result of all this care and analysis is a scholarly exemplar of conservation work that deserves significant recognition.

Robert Kilgour

Cathedral Architect for Lichfield Cathedral

The restoration of the window has been hugely impressive. We were amazed at the skill and dedication of the whole team - the finished window is a testament to the restorers’ craftsmanship.