In 2022 the Berwick Preservation Trust was asked to assist with the renovation and conservation of some of the leaded windows in St Helen’s church, Cornhill-on-Tweed, which were highly acclaimed but badly in need of saving for the enjoyment of future generations.

The main stained glass window behind the altar comprises three lancets and is the work of Alfred Octavius Hemming, who is recognised as perhaps the finest stained glass artist of the Victorian era. This window is of national heritage importance and the only example of Hemming’s work in Northumberland. His work may also be seen in the east window of the Chapter House of Canterbury Cathedral, the north transept of Salisbury Cathedral, in Chelmsford Cathedral and elsewhere. Hemming is known to have made his own glass, which had a higher refractive index than usual, resulting in a different order of quality from many other windows.

The window was commissioned as a memorial to Cospatrick, 11th Earl of Home, and Lucy, 11th Countess of Home, by their children.

Confirmation that production of the window is attributable to A.O. Hemming was acknowledged some years ago by the late Dr Neil Moat, the authority on 19th century church glass, and confirmed by Mr Chesney of Iona Art Glass, who is a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Glaziers and Painters on Glass.
The conservation and repair work required the complete removal of the window and when it was reinstalled it was placed behind an environmentally protective glazing system, which not only protects it from the elements without any visual or physical impact, but ensures that a clean, bright and colourful window as originally designed can be enjoyed by future generations.

The conservation work included painstakingly cleaning the stained and painted glass elements with distilled water and soft cloths, whilst any damaged leadwork was repaired. Each of the three lancets and tracery elements was re-mounted in individual lightweight bronze frames and closed with lead tape. This allows a degree of ventilation around the perimeters.

At the same time, the Preservation Trust also decided to support the restoration of two double-lancet windows in the nave of the church containing acid-etched “pennyweight” thin glass. These windows date from the 1840 restoration works and possibly incorporate the glass from the 1750 works. Unfortunately these windows had been crudely re-leaded and set in hard Portland cement some time in the 20th century, causing severe bowing and damage to the stonework. Restoration included re-making these windows with lead of a section suitable for the thinness of the glass and remounting them in a medium with a degree of allowance for movement to prevent bowing in the future.

All the conservation and preservation work was carried out by Iona Art Glass, one of the UK’s leading specialists in conserving and restoring stained glass .

Click on a photograph to display an enlarged view.