News and Articles

Jon Castleman talks all things lead

Jon made the lead inner casket for the remains of King Richard III, found buried under a car park (the site of a former chapel) in Leicester in 2012, he was also tasked with welding it shut.

All about Sophie

Sophie is one of our lovely and very knowledgeable conservation assistants here at Messenger. Below she talks about her “not so straightforward” route into conservation, what a day at Messenger looks like and updates us on one of her current project at Oxburgh Hall.

Hidden Treasures of a Tudor House

Messenger are nearing the half-way mark on a two-year project to complete the restoration of the roofs, chimneys and dormer windows of the property. When the work commenced, archaeologists did not expect to uncover one of the largest underfloor archaeology hauls of its type in a National Trust house.

All that Glitters is not Gold

Having received such a glowing set of testimonials for an actual glowing project, we couldn’t help but share these along with some stunning pictures of Elvaston Castle Coach House.

Beverley Minster makes the Yorkshire Post

The scaffolding pipes that now climb to the roof of England’s biggest parish church would if laid end to end stretch all the way to Market Weighton, some 10 miles west.

Conserving and Regenerating Belton Stables

Sitting elegantly in formal gardens with views across pleasure grounds and an ancient deer-park, National Trust’s Belton House, Grantham, is often cited as being the perfect example of an English country-house estate.

Stable Opera!

With materials including over 2,400 sheets of structural plywood and almost 25 kilometres of softwood carcassing and timber linings, the dream of a permanent opera theatre to be built within a listed stable, finally became a reality.

Collyweston Stone Slating – Keeping the Skills Alive

The production of Collyweston stone slate has been taking place in the village of Collyweston for approximately 400 years. The slate is unique to the area and is of significant importance...

Sacrewell Mill Cambridgeshire

This Grade II* listed watermill is located at Sacrewell close to Peterborough in Cambridgeshire. The mill, which prior to restoration was listed on Historic England’s ‘Heritage at Risk’ register, was built in 1755...