Restored Windows Ready For Antarctica
Fellridge Heritage Crafts, based near Bakewell in the beautiful Peak District, is run by brothers Jim and Louie Brearley-Ratcliffe. Jim, a Fellow of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), brings exceptional craftsmanship and conservation expertise to every project. His skills were recently called upon for a truly unique commission — to create new windows for a research hut in Antarctica.
The original windows were shipped back to the UK in March this year to be carefully replicated in the Fellridge workshop. Prior to production, the team had tested the paint over the previous winter to ensure its durability in the continent’s extreme conditions.
Modern plastic-based paints were quickly ruled out — not only because they release microplastics harmful to wildlife, but also because they would not withstand the Antarctic climate and certainly not suitable for penguins!” Instead, linseed oil paint proved its resilience, passing all performance tests with flying colours, and was chosen for the project.
Jim explained, “They’re fairly complex for such small windows, with unusual details such as separate, easily replaceable sills and lower sashes that don’t open. I used slow-grown, straight-grained Swedish redwood, carefully quartered and oriented the heartwood outwards on every component — a detail that should greatly extend their lifespan.”
The windows were finished in Restoration White and a bespoke Signal Red, specially mixed to match traces of the original paint. Accoya beading was used on the glazing — a practical solution, as local birds have been known to peck at linseed putty!
Hardware for the project was supplied by Carlisle Brass and the Suffolk Latch Company. The completed windows are now ready for shipment and will be installed in January, when Jim travels to Antarctica to oversee the fitting — and, hopefully, to capture some final installation photos between admiring the view and the penguins.
To see more of Fellridge Heritage Crafts’ work, visit their Instagram: @fellridge
Images are protected by copyright and reproduced with the kind permission of Jim Brearley-Ratcliffe
