Tim Phelps ACR

17 Apr 2025

I am one of the leading, highly experienced and knowledgeable furniture conservators in the UK, specialising in ‘brown furniture’ (made of oak, walnut, mahogany, rosewood, satinwood, fruitwood, and also more exotic decorative timbers used for veneered work), now based in the West Midlands, but prepared to travel to most areas within the UK (generally excepting London and Southeast). I have an extensive, outstanding stock of historic old surface timbers to use for patching and repairs.

I was based in Yorkshire for more than 30 years and I still retain regular contact with discerning clients throughout the north of England.

I am on the Executive Committee of the Chippendale Society and have worked on original Chippendale furniture in collections at Harewood House, Paxton House, Nostell Priory, and in private collections.

I have undertaken work for the National Trust and English Heritage, public Institutions, Museums and many private collectors for over 30 years.

I am also actively involved as a member of the Regional Furniture Society.

John Rylands Library, Manchester

Historic Reading Room: regular maintenance of the Grade 1 listed, superb quality, late Victorian, neo-Gothic, oak interior.

Adjusting and servicing library cabinets, locks, mechanisms and doors. Conservation of oak chairs.

A full condition survey and treatment details record of all 1000+ cabinet doors and mechanisms, since 2007, has been compiled.

Mahogany artist’s table, Nostell Priory

Conservation of the mahogany artist’s table supplied by Thomas Chippendale to Nostell Priory in 1767. For The National Trust.

Charlecote Park, The National Trust

Specialist advice and on-site conservation work to skilfully remove sections of show wood oak ceiling and wall panelling in the dining room window bay, to provide access for building contractors to repair damaged lintels concealed behind oak show wood panelling and architraves.

The dining room was an 1830s addition, together with the library, to a late sixteenth century house, all now Grade 1 listed interiors.

Paxton House, Scotland, Condition surveys

Condition surveys of the majority of the collection of Thomas Chippendale (especially the Younger) and William Trotter documented pieces (approx. 150 pieces of furniture).

On site and studio repairs to several Chippendale secretaires and sofa, and William Trotter sofa table.

Gorton Chained Library, Chethams, Manchester

Conservation repairs and adjustments to Gorton chained library oak cabinet at Chethams Library, Manchester.

Discretely repairing and strengthening broken door frame rail; repositioning hinges from altered bottom-hung arrangement and returning hinges to earlier side-hung door positions. Setting up doors to best possible adjustments within cabinet openings. Tidying sixty screw holes from removed chains and hinges.

John Rylands Library Reading Room view

Overview of this Grade 1 listed interior.

John Rylands Library Reading Room view of apse end

John Rylands Library Reading Room cabinet, table and chairs

Chippendale mahogany artist’s table, Nostell Priory, The National Trust

Mahogany artist’s table supplied by Thomas Chippendale for Nostell Priory in 1767. Photo on completion of our repairs.

Gorton chained library cabinet, before conservation

Gorton Chained Library cabinet, after conservation

Gorton Chained Library cabinet, after conservation, with doors open

Pair of window seats, c.1755, private owner

Pair of highly original, distinctive and finely detailed window seats from a North Yorkshire family estate. These unusual survivals (under numerous later covers) retain original upholstery profiles, support canvas and webbings, and original stuffings of grass and horsehair.

Detail from a window seat, c.1755, private owner

Minor losses to show wood edges of the blind fret legs were tidied and repaired using carefully matched antique mahogany, reducing risk of further snagging damage and losses. The show wood was gently cleaned, and wax polished to complete treatment.

Oak panelling after conservation, Bessie Surtees House, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Historic England

Tidying, repairing and conserving 17th century oak panelling in main first floor public room at Bessie Surtees House (north-east regional headquarters, Historic England). Improving overall colour, appearance and surface lustre. Carefully waxed with traditional polishes to give an attractive mellow sheen, fully retaining the deep texture of the aged surfaces.

Panelling detail, before conservation, Bessie Surtees House, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Historic England

Panelling detail before conservation showing where in bright sunlit conditions surfaces had dulled and lightened. Excessively pale panels, frames and edges were toned to balance overall colour using light fast tint polishes and pigments. Splintering edges were reglued using traditional scotch glue and loose parts were consolidated.

Biography

Tim Phelps ACR

Awarded full Icon Accreditation (ACR) in 2000; I have also been trained as an accreditation assessor.

I have been carrying out work for the National Trust since 1990 and worked in the 1990s with English Heritage at Brodsworth Hall.

Studio established 1984 after full training and experience. West Dean College Diploma in Antique Furniture Restoration and Conservation; five years’ workshop experience and training with Arthur Brett, Antiques Dealer, Norwich; original hand skills training, two years at Rycotewood College.

Client Testimonials

The works completed have made a huge improvement to the room. Thank you so much for carrying these out.

David Harrison
Reigonal Facilities Manager, Historic England

Tim appreciated the quality and historic importance of these window seats as rare surviving examples of historic upholstery layout, and his careful sympathetic repairs and treatments have respected and recorded some early evidence for posterity.

I have worked with Tim and his team on a number of pieces over the years and can vouch for the knowledge, skill and integrity of his work without hesitation.

Private client
Yorkshire

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