Founded by Keith Barley in 1973, Barley Studio has an international reputation for excellence in stained glass creation and conservation for cathedrals, stately homes, parish churches and prestigious secular buildings across the UK and beyond.
Our multi-skilled team of conservators, craftspeople and artists is headed by Directors Keith Barley MBE and Helen Whittaker MBE. We cover all aspects of stained glass and associated metalwork, including environmental protective glazing systems, historic ferramenta and opening casements, stainless steel wire guards, period style plain glazing, surveys and reports. All work is carried out in-house in our purpose-built stained glass studio.
Our primary aim is to preserve stained glass windows for future generations, while respecting the integrity of the original artist’s vision. Every project is examined individually and treated accordingly, working closely with the client or architect. We undertake projects on glass of all periods, from the medieval to the present day, and of all sizes, from small domestic repairs to major cathedral works.
Conservation and Restoration
Barley Studio conserve both glass and leadwork where possible. We adhere to the Conservation Guidelines of the international Corpus Vitrearum Medii Aevi (CVMA) and the Church Buildings Council (CBC). All projects are fully documented, from initial condition to records of work undertaken.
Barley Studio’s skilled painters and conservators use traditional stained glass techniques and materials to restore lost imagery faithful to the original artist’s intention. Decisions are made in consultation with clients and art historical advisors, and all new pieces are identified in accordance with conservation guidance and ethics.
Protection
Barley Studio install internally ventilated Environmental Protective Glazing (EPG, previously known as ‘Isothermal’ Glazing) to protect vulnerable stained glass from the damaging effects of moisture, whether external (weathering) or internal (condensation).
We provide mechanical protection from impact damage, whether accidental or malicious, using wire guards individually fitted within the window opening. Secondary glazing, through the installation of an additional glazing layer, can also be used for mechanical protection, and to improve both heat insulation and sound-proofing of a building whilst preserving historic leaded glazing.
Reports and Consultancy
Barley Studio offer advice on stained glass and leaded glazing of all periods from medieval to contemporary, as well as the associated fabric (stone, timber or metalwork). We carry out site inspections and our ICON-accredited conservators (ACRs) produce reports for church architects and Parochial Church Councils (PCCs) throughout the UK.
We undertake consultancy work, both around the UK (for example at Lichfield and Ely Cathedrals and at Selby Abbey) and in major international conservation projects at the Siena Duomo in Italy, The Cloisters at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and St Patrick’s Cathedral, New York.
Associated Metalwork
Barley Studio’s metalwork department repair, replicate and create metal opening vents and supporting structures (support bars and ferramenta) associated with leaded glazing.
We fabricate and supply guards in stainless steel welded mesh, strong enough to provide good mechanical protection, whilst still being fine enough that the guards are reasonably unobtrusive. Guards are individually made to fit within the stonework reveal of each opening and powder coated for durability.
Training
Barley Studio favours an inter-disciplinary approach and is committed to in-house training as well as participation in external conferences and training courses. Our team members are trained in all aspects of stained glass creation, craft and conservation as well as having their own specialist areas, including qualification to NVQ level in related areas such as stonemasonry and metalwork.
Our studio has also hosted many work placements for students from the UK and abroad. Conservators and glaziers trained at Barley Studio have gone on to work in studios and museums all over the world.
14th Century glass: St Denys Church, Walmgate, York
Stained Glass Conservation at Barley Studios
15th Century glass: All Saints Church, North Street, York
Environmental Protective Glazing
16th Century glass: the ‘Herkenrode’ glass of Lichfield Cathedral
Reports and Consultancy
18th Century glass: Sir William Turner’s Hospital Chapel, Kirkleatham
Metalwork associated with Stained Glass
19th Century glass: Morris and Company at All Saints Church, Low Catton, York
Accredited Members
Keith Barley MBE MA ACR CF FMGP
Keith founded Barley Studio in 1973 and over the last 50 years has conserved some of the most prized stained glass windows in the UK. He is internationally recognised for pioneering the use of environmental protective glazing in the UK to preserve vulnerable windows, an approach which has now been followed by practitioners across the UK and beyond.
Keith is an Icon accredited conservator (ACR), conservation adviser to the UK Corpus Vitrearum Medii Aevi (CVMA), and Fellow of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust (CF). Keith was awarded the MBE in in 2015 ‘for service to cultural restoration and conservation’.
Dr Alison Gilchrist MA ACR
Alison joined Barley Studio in 2011 as a conservator, having previously worked as an academic and colour scientist. She completed her MA in Stained Glass Conservation and Heritage Management at the University of York in 2010, winning the Nicholas Barker prize for her dissertation on severe paint loss from nineteenth-century stained glass windows.
Alison undertook a year’s internship at Barley Studio under the Icon-HLF Training Bursaries programme (2010-11) and gained Icon Accredited Conservator-Restorer (ACR) status in 2015. She is a member of the Stained Glass Committee of the Church Buildings Council, advising on conservation projects and grant funding.
Client Testimonials
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.
Vice Chair
PCC of Stow Minster, Lincolnshire
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