SOME of the rarest surviving 18th-century stained glass in Britain has been fitted with environmental protective glazing to protect it from weathering which has been worsened by climate change.

The work was carried out by specialist conservators Holy Well Glass Ltd, from Wells following extensive monitoring.

The conservation work aims to help protect artwork by John Rowell in a gothic tomb chamber at  a property known as The Vyne in Basingstoke, Hampshire.

The stained glass in a gothic tomb chamber dates back 250 years, but the National Trust is leading the urgent restoration following increasing rainfall and heat from the sun.

A National Trust spokesperson said: “Recently, climate change exacerbated the fragile condition of the window, causing the painted detail to flake, lead-work to warp and leak, and cycles of condensation to eat away at the surface of the glass.

“The marble tomb featuring an effigy of Chaloner Chute, The Vyne’s original 17th-century owner, has also been affected, the surface starting to erode into small crystals, known as ‘sugaring’.”

The glass window, which depicts the Adoration of the Shepherds after Van Dyck, is considered to be the most important surviving example of Rowell’s work.

The Wells-based company removed the glass before repairing cracks and cleaning the piece under binocular microscopes, which involved rolling cotton buds soaked in ethanol and de-ionised water gently across the surface to ensure none of the original painted detail was lost.

A secondary glazing layer was then added in lead and hand-made glass, replicating the traditional methods found in the stained glass.

This was mounted in the original timber frame, with the historical stained glass mounted in a bespoke bronze frame marginally inside its original position.

The interspace between the layers was also ventilated to avoid creation of a microclimate, which could lead to condensation.

Jack Clare, director of Holy Well Glass, said: “This highly significant glass is exceptionally fragile, and showed clear signs of deterioration due to its environmental conditions.

“We are seeing increasingly frequent extreme weather events, which are exacerbating the deterioration of our historical buildings.

“This is becoming a major consideration in caring for our nation’s historic buildings, with concerns affecting the approach of a wide range of works, from guttering to glazing.”

Dominique Shembry, National Trust curator at The Vyne, said: “It’s wonderful to see these two beautiful windows back in their rightful place, looking so clean and free from mould.”

Additional reporting from Ben Mitchell, PA News Agency.