DJ Cooper Building Conservation for Leominster, Herefordshire

Leominster can claim its place in British commercial history by being the original hom of Ryeland Sheep, famed for its top-quality wool. With taxes on wool being vital to the crown, the wool from these sheep became known as 'Lemster Ore' and became a textile trade phenomenon in the middle ages.

Leominster is on the Black and White Trail which is a roughly forty mile circular tour of towns and villages where original 16th and 17th Century timber framed buildings are preserved and still enjoy daily use.

On a grander scale, Leominster Priory has been a place of gathering since the 7th century. There is a striking example of medieval justice here; imagine how the alleged witches must have felt when introduced to one of England’s last surviving ducking stools. There is also the Grade II listed timber framed market hall built by John Abel in 1633, Grange Court, which is still open to the public and gives a fascinating glimpse into the commerce of the day.

With historic buildings in and around the town, some national monuments, some still in use, owned privately or by the local council, we often find ourselves called on in the Leominster area to ensure that when the grime from traffic, bird fouling, general day to day soiling or even graffiti is removed from a treasured building, there is no damage to the often delicate stonework beneath.

From removal of old paint for a domestic redecoration project, or the intricate cleaning of stone work in a cathedral using the poultice method, you will find that wherever you are in Leominster or Herefordshire, you will get a quick response, highly competitive quotation and thorough cleaning from DJ Cooper. Our number is shown above, or if you prefer to send us an email, simply click in the header of any page.

Photo from Featured Project near Leominster, Herefordshire
Poultice Cleaning for intricate stone work
Poultice cleaning for the most precious and fragile pieces of stonework.

One of the most gentle techniques for removing the effects of time and pollution, bird fouling and other contamination from stonework is the process of poultice cleaning.

This is now very commonly used to maintain irreplaceable stone carving and mouldings, where the underlying material may be fragile with age and weathering. As its name implies, the process is similar to applying a poultice in medicine. A chemical mix is applied to the surface and allowed to cure. Then, when it has done its work, simply peeled off, lifting the dirt with it to leave a clean surface.

As in so many aspects of cleaning, there is a huge choice of poultice materials to choose from. The skill of making the right decision is as important as the art of applying the materials correctly and making sure that the only thing removed from your stonework is the contamination.

With a long experience in all types of exterior and interior stonework cleaning, including poultice techniques, you can be sure that you will get the best possible combination of cleaning efficiency and substrate preservation from D.J, Cooper.