David Sleight Conservation is based in Welford, Northamptonshire, and provides repair, conservation, consultancy and practical training services for traditional and listed buildings. Its work encompasses historic brickwork and stonework, lime mortars, plaster and render, cob construction, timber elements and traditional mortar floors.
David's published career history describes work with historic buildings from 1979, followed by conservation and training roles with English Heritage and British Waterways. He began working independently as a conservation contractor and consultant in 2004. This background brings practical repair experience together with advice for owners, professional teams and those learning traditional building skills.
The business undertakes repairs to historic masonry and lime mortar repointing. Its published projects include the replacement of deteriorated bricks, careful removal of unsuitable previous repairs and the use of replacement bricks and mortars selected to relate to the surviving fabric.
At a converted stable in Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire, the recorded work included removing cement render, cleaning brickwork by hand, inserting matching handmade bricks and repointing. The project illustrates an approach concerned with the condition and appearance of the existing masonry rather than a uniform replacement finish.
Services include internal lime plastering, external lime rendering and repairs to traditional lath-and-plaster construction. The portfolio records work involving riven oak laths, haired lime plaster, localised replacement and the conservation of surviving plaster.
At the Manor Gatehouse in Wormleighton, Warwickshire, the published account describes retaining sound sections of an early plaster ceiling while repairing damaged areas. New finishes were trialled to relate to the surviving plaster. Other examples include the repair and re-rendering of a cob cottage in Clipston, Northamptonshire.
Cob repair is a distinct part of the service range. Work at the Coal Store in Guilsborough included addressing raised external ground levels, repairing the supporting brickwork and replacing decayed earth with prepared clay blocks matched to the existing material.
The project also involved local repairs and internal lime finishes. Such work is relevant to owners of earth-built houses, outbuildings and boundary structures requiring an assessment of both the wall material and the conditions contributing to its deterioration.
The published portfolio includes timber repairs, with a casement-window repair at Warwick's Court House among the documented examples. The appropriate scope of timber work should be confirmed for each building rather than assumed to cover every form of structural carpentry or new joinery.
David Sleight Conservation also records repairs to historic mortar floors, sometimes described as lime-ash floors. At Wormleighton Gatehouse, work included testing repair materials and providing support beneath weakened areas to limit the loss of the original floor. This is a specialist conservation activity, distinct from installing a conventional modern floor screed.
Consultancy services include building fabric surveys, condition reports, heritage statements, schedules of works and repair specifications. Advice can address material selection, mortar design, maintenance planning and proposed alterations. An on-site supervision and clerk of works service is also advertised.
The consultancy portfolio includes a condition survey of the Burton Memorial in Daventry and an assessment of brick, stone and terracotta at Leicester's former railway station buildings. These examples show the relationship between investigation, identifying defects and developing appropriate repair proposals.
Training is offered alongside contracting and consultancy. David's published experience includes teaching conservation professionals, contractors, building owners, employees and volunteers about traditional materials and practical repair skills.
A documented project at Vicarage Road Bridge on the Kennet and Avon Canal involved training Canal & River Trust staff and volunteers during repairs to a brick parapet. Activities included preparing historic bricks for reuse, rebuilding and lime mortar repointing. Enquiries can address training tailored to a building or project; course availability and arrangements should be confirmed directly.
Initial enquiries can include the property address, photographs, a description of the construction and defects, and any existing survey or specification. State whether the requirement is for advice, a written report, practical repairs, site supervision or training so that the proposed service can be defined clearly.
The business is based in Welford. Confirm current project availability, geographical coverage and the scope of the proposed commission directly.
Published business contact address:
3a Church Lane
Welford, Northamptonshire
NN6 6HB
Contact: David Sleight
Telephone: 01858 571006
Mobile: 07980 702121
Email: david@sleightconservation.co.uk
Website: sleightconservation.co.uk
| Services & Expertise | |
|---|---|
| Principal Areas of Work: | Historic building conservation, Listed building repairs, Brick and stone repairs, Lime mortar repointing, Lime plastering and rendering, Cob repairs, Historic plaster conservation, Timber repairs, Heritage consultancy, Practical conservation training |
| Capabilities and Specialisms: | Historic building fabric surveys, Condition reports, Heritage statements, Schedules of works, Repair specifications, Mortar selection and matching, Lath and plaster repairs, Cob and earth wall repairs, Historic mortar floor repairs, Maintenance planning, Clerk of works services, On-site conservation skills training |
| Accreditation & Membership Details: | The business reports that David Sleight is a Full Member of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) and a member of the Building Limes Forum, the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) and the Ancient Monuments Society. The IHBC's September 2005 journal records his admission as a Full Member. |
| Geographical Areas Covered: | Based in Welford, Northamptonshire; project locations and training coverage by enquiry. |
| Contact & Online Presence | |
| Mobile: | +44 (0) 7980 702121 |
| Contact(s): | David Sleight |
| Email: | david@sleightconservation.co.uk |
| Business Details & Insurance. | |
| Company Trading Name: | David Sleight Conservation |
