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York Glaziers Trust is the oldest and largest specialist stained glass conservation studio in Britain. YGT is a charitable trust dedicated to the care and conservation of historic stained glass in York Minster and throughout the UK. Discover more
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YGT Services
York Glaziers Trust undertakes conservation projects on behalf of owners and custodians of stained glass of all periods, in historic buildings from great Cathedrals to the smallest of parish churches, in museums and art galleries and in private collections.
Based in a workshop in the centre of the historic city of York, the Trust offers a wide-ranging service, including conservation, repair and protection of medieval stained glass, of enamel painted glass of the 17th century and Georgian era, of Victorian and Edwardian stained glass, of twentieth-century windows and of historic plain glazing. Our staff also provide an unparalleled advisory service.Expert Advice, Conservation Plans, Grant Applications
The Trust offers advice and expertise in the preparation of condition reports, quinquennial inspection reports, conservation plans, statements of need and statements of significance, historical evaluations and the preparation of grant-applications to national funding bodies, including the Church Building Council, The Worshipful Company of Glaziers and the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Stained Glass Conservation for the Twenty-First Century
Modern cleaning techniques not only remove damaging corrosion deposits, but can also improve legibility, brightness and translucency of a window.
Windows can also be endangered by weakening and failure in the structure of the lead net or by failure in the window's support structure. The failure of the waterproofing of the window causes it to leak, damaging glass surfaces and surrounding stonework. The lead net is nonetheless part of the historic fabric of the window, so re-leading should be undertaken only after careful evaluation.
Where appropriate, the conservator can also apply modern bonding techniques that allow the impact of insensitive mending leads to be reduced, if not eliminated. If necessary, our skilled glass-painters can provide conservation in-fills to replace lost glass.
Environmental Protective Glazing
Many of the symptoms of glass deterioration are triggered by exposure of the glass to moisture externally and internally. Further deterioration of a window can be halted with recourse to ventilated protective glazing (sometimes called isothermal glazing), which removes fragile historic glass from the impact of wind pressure and the damaging effects of external moisture and recurrent cycles of internal condensation. The Trust has extensive experience of design and installation in sensitive historic locations.
External Protection
In locations where vandalism or break-ins are a risk, external powder-coated wire guards can offer additional protection.
Latest News
Another chance to see the BBC4 documentary on the Great East Window of York Minster and the work of York Glaziers Trust. Click here
