Restoring the original front door of a Victorian vicarage.
The Old Vicarage in Wilburton, Cambridgeshire, is a handsome Victorian property built around 1871 with funding from the Church of England’s Ecclesiastical Commissioners. Its original front door had not been refinished for many years, so we were asked to strip it back, repair the details and protect it with a fresh, lasting finish.
Stripping back to bare wood
The old, failing coating was fully removed and the door was sanded back to bare wood. We took care around the moulded panels and ironmongery so the door’s character and period detail stayed intact.
Repairing the details
The black studs were repaired where needed and re-blacked, and the ironmongery was finished in black to match. With the surface properly prepared, the door was ready for its protective coating.
A light oak oil-stain finish
Following the customer’s request, we built the finish back up with a light oak oil stain. The result brings out the grain, complements the surrounding brickwork and gives the door long-lasting protection against the weather.