Arlington Works is a specialist fireplace restoration business based in Twickenham, West London, undertaking the conservation, repair, reconstruction and installation of antique fireplace surrounds and architectural chimneypieces.
The company works with original English and Continental fireplaces dating principally from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Its areas of expertise include Georgian, Regency and Victorian fireplaces, together with French marble chimneypieces reflecting the Louis XV, Louis XVI and subsequent revival styles.
Historic fireplaces are significant architectural features that contribute to the character, craftsmanship and decorative history of traditional interiors. Their restoration requires specialist knowledge of historic materials, traditional construction methods and the architectural styles associated with different periods.
Arlington Works provides restoration and fitting services for domestic, commercial and trade projects, with particular expertise in marble and natural stone fireplace surrounds.
Marble and stone conservation forms a principal part of the company's work. Antique chimneypieces may exhibit damage caused by prolonged exposure to heat, smoke, building movement, accidental impact or inappropriate previous repairs.
Restoration services include the repair of cracked or fractured stone, replacement of damaged elements, reconstruction of missing architectural details and refinishing of historic surfaces where appropriate.
The company maintains a collection of period antique materials that can be used to match existing marble and stone during restoration.
Where decorative components have been damaged or lost, carved details may be reproduced and architectural mouldings matched to the surviving original elements.
This approach is particularly relevant when repairing historic chimneypieces containing unusual marble varieties, intricate mouldings or decorative features characteristic of a particular architectural period.
Historic fireplaces frequently develop staining and surface deterioration associated with smoke, soot, domestic use and earlier cleaning methods.
Arlington Works undertakes specialist cleaning and conservation of marble and stone fireplace surrounds, including the treatment of smoke staining using carefully selected poultices.
These techniques are intended to remove unwanted deposits while avoiding unnecessary damage to the historic stone surface.
An important consideration in fireplace conservation is distinguishing between deterioration requiring treatment and the natural patina resulting from age and use.
The company's restoration approach recognises the historical character of antique materials and seeks to retain appropriate evidence of age while addressing damage and structural defects.
Many eighteenth- and nineteenth-century chimneypieces consist of numerous separate elements, including jambs, shelves, friezes, pilasters, mouldings and decorative carvings.
Damage or loss of individual components can affect both the appearance and structural integrity of a fireplace surround.
Arlington Works undertakes the reconstruction of missing and damaged elements, using traditional materials selected to correspond with the original fireplace.
Services include matching historic mouldings, re-carving decorative features and replacing elements that can no longer be satisfactorily retained.
The objective is to restore the architectural composition of the chimneypiece while preserving as much surviving historic material as practicable.
In addition to workshop restoration, Arlington Works provides specialist fitting services for antique marble and stone fireplace surrounds.
Historic chimneypieces can incorporate numerous heavy and individually shaped components requiring careful alignment, support and secure fixing during installation.
The company employs traditional methods of fireplace assembly and fitting, including the use of casting plaster and non-ferrous metal ties.
Its published approach avoids reliance on modern mastics and adhesives, with the intention of allowing future removal without unnecessary damage to the historic material.
Services also include the installation of register grates, hob grates and fireplace inserts, together with the supply of materials for hearths, slips and firebox interiors.
Arlington Works has particular experience with British fireplaces from the Georgian, Regency and Victorian periods.
These architectural styles encompass a wide range of materials and designs, from restrained eighteenth-century stone surrounds to elaborate nineteenth-century marble chimneypieces.
The company's collection also includes Continental examples, particularly French fireplaces influenced by the Louis XV and Louis XVI periods, as well as nineteenth-century interpretations of earlier styles.
Knowledge of these historic forms is relevant when assessing the appropriate restoration, alteration or reinstatement of architectural fireplace features.
Alongside its restoration activities, Arlington Works sources and supplies original antique fireplaces and architectural chimneypieces.
Its collection includes examples constructed from Carrara marble, statuary marble, Sienna marble, other decorative stones and timber.
The reuse of original architectural features can provide an alternative to the manufacture of entirely new fireplace surrounds, particularly where suitable reclaimed examples can be incorporated into traditional buildings.
The company also acquires antique fireplace surrounds and associated fireside accessories, including grates and fire baskets.
Restored fireplaces are available for viewing at the company's West London workshop by appointment.
Arlington Works' services are relevant to the conservation and refurbishment of period houses, historic interiors and traditional buildings containing significant fireplace features.
The company's combination of material matching, architectural reconstruction and traditional fitting methods provides specialist capabilities for projects requiring the repair or reinstatement of antique marble and stone chimneypieces.
Where work affects a listed building, the significance of existing historic fabric should be assessed before undertaking removal, reconstruction or replacement.
Any necessary listed building consent should be obtained, and fireplaces intended for operational use should be assessed for compliance with relevant chimney, flue and fire safety requirements.
| Services & Expertise | |
|---|---|
| Principal Areas of Work: | Antique fireplace restoration, Historic chimneypiece conservation, Marble fireplace restoration, Stone fireplace restoration, Architectural stone repairs, Period fireplace reconstruction, Traditional fireplace installation, Antique fireplace supply, Architectural salvage and reuse |
| Capabilities and Specialisms: | Georgian fireplaces, Regency fireplaces, Victorian fireplaces, Queen Anne fireplaces, French antique chimneypieces, Marble conservation, Carrara marble, Statuary marble, Sienna marble, Stone carving, Historic moulding repairs, Marble poultice cleaning, Smoke stain removal, Decorative stone reconstruction, Traditional casting plaster, Non-ferrous fireplace fixings, Register grates, Hob grates, Fireplace hearths, Architectural antiques |
| Geographical Areas Covered: | London, Greater London, South East England, United Kingdom |
| Contact & Online Presence | |
| Email: | info@arlingtonworks.co.uk |
| Business Details & Insurance. | |
| Company Trading Name: | ARLINGTON WORKS LTD |
| Company Number: | 15737456 |
