Ventrolla, a market leader in heritage restoration and renovation of timber sash and casement windows, has completed specialist restoration works at the historic Royal Observatory Greenwich, restoring around 80 original windows as part of a major restoration project at the iconic London landmark which dates back to the 1890s.
The project, which was undertaken alongside a wider programme of restoration works to the building by main contractor Willmott Dixon Interiors, saw Ventrolla’s specialist team carefully restore almost all of the existing windows. One, beyond repair, was instead replaced like-for-like, ensuring the appearance and character of the original design was retained.
The works took place over several months and involved a combination of varying-sized sash and casement windows, alongside striking circular oriel windows located on the turrets.
Ventrolla’s on-site team consisted of two window restoration specialists and a decorator. Working within a wider, complex restoration programme required a careful and coordinated approach to ensure the window works could progress efficiently alongside other contractors working on the historic building.
Craig Bromley, senior project manager at Willmott Dixon Interiors, said: “Working with Ventrolla on this project has been a pleasure. The team’s expertise and careful approach meant that they were able to restore all but one of the Observatory’s original windows, preserving as much of the building’s historic character as possible. It’s fantastic to see these important features given a new lease of life, while retaining the history and craftsmanship that make the Observatory so special.”
Mark Flanagan, managing director of Ventrolla, added: “Being part of restoring a building like the Royal Observatory is a fantastic opportunity for the Ventrolla team. With around 80 windows needing work, this was a substantial project, and working closely with Willmott Dixon Interiors, careful planning and efficiency were essential to keep the works progressing alongside the wider restoration. Thankfully, there was perhaps no better place to make sure we stayed on time than the home of Greenwich Mean Time! Projects like this showcase the value of specialist window restoration, particularly for a building where the windows have such a rich history.”
