As part of efforts to preserve and protect the Minster’s iconic stained-glass windows, the York Glaziers Trust are exploring new materials that could be used in essential maintenance and repair. Before it can be used on such historic and culturally significant features, it must be proven to withstand the test of time and the unique demands of the Yorkshire climate.
That’s where Ellis’s advanced long-term UV weathering testing machine comes in. Usually reserved for assessing the durability and performance of Ellis cable cleats, which are used in some of the world’s most demanding environments such as wind farms and offshore oil & gas rigs, the machine can compress 60 years of real-world exposure into just one year of testing.
By subjecting materials to cycles of temperature, moisture, UV exposure, and atmospheric stress, Ellis helps ensure that only the most robust and resilient materials are selected for the Minster’s restoration work.
“Supporting York Minster is always a privilege,” said Stephen Walton, Technical Director at Ellis. “Our testing equipment is built to simulate the long-term effects of sun, wind and rain - conditions that are usually part of far harsher testing regimes for our cable cleats. Applying that same level of scrutiny to everyday weather to help protect a treasured local landmark is something we’re incredibly proud of.”
Anna Milsom, stained-glass conservator at The York Minster Glaziers Trust, said: “We’re enormously grateful to Ellis Patents for carrying out this specialist testing on our behalf. The resin and cold-paint samples we’ve submitted are being evaluated for use in future conservation projects, particularly where cold-paint is required. One of our key aims is to identify a material that can accurately replicate a transparent yellow silver stain — something our current conservation paints cannot achieve, as they only produce an opaque yellow, which is unsuitable for transparent glass.
“Alternative options such as acrylics or glass paint mixed with gold size were considered, but we had concerns about their long-term lightfastness. The results from Ellis’s testing will hopefully provide a reliable solution and give us the confidence to adopt a new cold-paint mixture in future restoration work.”
This latest initiative builds on a long-standing collaboration between Ellis and York Minster through both the Glazier’s Trust and the Stonemasons Yard. Previous projects have included support for the Minster’s sustainability goals, providing cleats for the groundbreaking solar panel installation project on the Minster roof.
In addition to this technical collaboration, Ellis is once again supporting the York Minster Christmas Tree Festival, reinforcing the company’s ongoing commitment to the region and its heritage.
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North Yorkshire YO17 8LA
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