This noteworthy building, in the heart of London’s Whitehall was designed by Alfred Waterhouse in 1885 and is famous for its Gothic Revival architecture and remarkable tiled interiors.

In 2008, a team of ceramic conservation specialists started work on the lower sections of the fourteen tile clad columns in The Smoking Room. The work was discretely undertaken whilst the room was in use by the Club members and addressed problems such as removing paint residues, intractable dirt deposits and inappropriate restorations. Surrogate material was introduced to compensate for lost sections, chipped areas and cracks.

Work was simultaneously carried out at the Crick Smith University studios to provide replacement tiles. Casts were taken from moulds produced from original tiles and consolidated to achieve a smooth, durable finish. Once on site, they were colour matched to the original tiles and bonded into place.

The project was extremely successful and the lower column shafts and pedestals can now be fully appreciated for their decorative and historic merit.

The programme, to preserve the upper column shafts and capitals, will begin in February 2010. Again, this will address similar treatments including the replication of missing moulded detail on several of the capitals.

This is the second room to be restored by Crick Smith. The David Lloyd George Room was successfully treated in 2001 where the programme extended beyond restoring the tiles columns to include arches a fireplace and tiled grill.

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