Hirst Conservation

What Hirst Conservation does

Hirst Conservation Limited is a UK heritage conservation practice founded in 1986 by Elizabeth Hirst, headquartered in Laughton, Sleaford, Lincolnshire. The company delivers specialist conservation and restoration services across nine disciplines: surveys and consultancy, decoration and gilding, stone and terracotta, architectural paint research, traditional plasterwork, wall paintings, monuments and sculpture, easel paintings, and joinery and timber. Core technical capability is built around in-house analytical laboratories (operational since 1986), laser cleaning for fragile surfaces, and portable XRF lead testing, combined with traditional craft-based conservation delivery. The practice serves cathedrals, ecclesiastical buildings, stately homes, civic and public buildings, museums, and monuments, with client logos including the Palace of Westminster, Manchester Town Hall, York Minster, Durham Cathedral, Lichfield Cathedral, Wentworth Woodhouse, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and the National Museum of the Royal Navy.

The business operates a project-based professional services model, earning revenue through fixed-price conservation contracts and multi-year framework appointments acquired via direct tender, architect appointment, and consortium arrangements. Notable multi-year engagements include the four-year Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal framework (appointed 2022 with Sandberg, Conisbee, and Hutton+Rostron) and the six-year Manchester Town Hall project. The company is privately held and founder-controlled, with no disclosed external institutional investment. In November 2023, the firm established Hirst Architecture as a RIBA chartered practice under Anna Webster, extending the service line into chartered architectural services.

The company holds PACR (Professional Accreditation of Conservation Registers) accreditation and Icon membership, with senior staff contributing to professional bodies such as the Traditional Paint Forum. Distribution relies on reputation, professional networks, direct appointment by heritage architects and main contractors, and competition for public sector heritage tenders. Geographic footprint is primarily UK with occasional international engagements, including a collaboration with the Canadian Conservation Institute and work on the Parliamentary estate in Ottawa.

Name

Hirst Conservation

Legal name

Hirst Conservation Limited

Website

https://hirst-conservation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hirst Conservation is a UK heritage conservation practice founded in 1986, delivering multi-disciplinary restoration, architectural paint research, and scientific conservation analysis for cathedrals, civic buildings, stately homes, and museums. It serves public sector clients and heritage trusts via project contracts and multi-year frameworks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Heritage Conservation Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Nonresidential Bldgs (1540)

akta.pro primary industry

Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning (BPAHAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Historic Home Renovation & Preservation (HSAPAEAG), Stone Repair, Crack/Chip Filling & Re-Honing (HSAEAOAC), Stone Masonry Repair & Restoration (HSAGALAJ)

Keywords

• Heritage conservation services
• Architectural paint research
• Stone restoration services
• Wall painting conservation
• Traditional plasterwork repair

Headquarters

HQ city

Sleaford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Specialist Conservation and Restoration Contracts: Project-based professional services contracts delivering conservation works across stone, plaster, decorative surfaces, paintings, gilding, and architectural paint research. Revenue is earned through the delivery of specified conservation outcomes on heritage projects, typically scoped by architects, main contractors, or direct clients. Projects vary in scale from surveys and consultancy reports through to multi-year conservation delivery programmes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hirst Conservation is a multi-disciplinary heritage conservation practice delivering specialist conservation services across stone, plaster, decorative surfaces, paintings, gilding, and architectural paint research. The firm provides nine core service lines—Surveys & Consultancy, Decoration & Gilding, Stone/Terracotta & Building Surfaces, Architectural Paint Research, Traditional Plasterwork, Wall Paintings, Monuments & Sculpture, Easel Paintings, and Joinery & Timber—on cathedrals, stately homes, public buildings, and monuments across the UK and occasionally internationally. Services are commissioned directly by heritage clients, conservation architects, and main contractors on a project-by-project basis.

Product overview

Hirst Conservation is a multi-disciplinary heritage conservation practice offering a comprehensive suite of conservation services rather than a software product. The company provides nine core service areas: Surveys & Consultancy, Decoration & Gilding, Stone/Terracotta & Building Surfaces, Architectural Paint Research, Traditional Plasterwork, Wall Paintings, Monuments & Sculpture, Easel Paintings, and Joinery & Timber. Founded in 1986 by Elizabeth Hirst, the company operates from Lincolnshire and works nationally and internationally on heritage sites including cathedrals, stately homes, ecclesiastical buildings, and museums.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Surveys & Consultancy Professional assessment and advisory services for heritage buildings and objects, including condition surveys and treatment recommendations for heritage clients, architects, and conservation bodies.
• Decoration & Gilding Restoration and application of decorative surfaces and gold leaf gilding for historic buildings and features, including bridge structures, clock dials, and ecclesiastical interiors.
• Stone, Terracotta & Other Building Surfaces Conservation and restoration of stone, terracotta, and other historic building materials including laser cleaning and consolidation treatments for cathedrals, monuments, and historic facades.
• Architectural Paint Research Scientific analysis of historic paint layers including sample preparation, microscopy, chemical testing, and paint stratigraphy documentation to inform restoration treatments across heritage buildings.
• Traditional Plasterwork Conservation and repair of historic plaster surfaces including lath and plaster, ornamental plaster, and lime-based mortars for heritage buildings ranging from cathedrals to stately homes.
• Wall Paintings Conservation and stabilization of historic wall paintings, frescoes, and decorative paint schemes in ecclesiastical and secular buildings, including 15th/16th century examples and marouflaged canvas paintings.
• Monuments & Sculpture Conservation treatment of stone monuments, bronze statues, marble sculptures, and commemorative plaques including cleaning, patination, and structural repairs for war memorials and statuary.
• Easel Paintings Conservation and restoration of oil paintings on canvas and panel, including cleaning, consolidation, and structural treatments for museums, galleries, and private collectors.
• Joinery & Timber Conservation of historic timber including structural elements, carved wood, and painted timber surfaces in heritage buildings.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully delivered conservation on nationally significant heritage sites including Ely Cathedral, York Minster, Palace of Westminster, Wentworth Woodhouse, and Manchester Town Hall.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers22 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Palace of Westminster Consortium (Sandberg, Conisbee, Hutton+Rostron)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2022Hirst Conservation was appointed to a four-year framework to undertake intrusive surveys at the Palace of Westminster, as part of the Restoration and Renewal Programme. Working in conjunction with consortium partners Sandberg, Conisbee, and Hutton+Rostron.
• Cleveland BridgecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnered with specialist bridge rehabilitation firm Cleveland Bridge for the Trent Bridge conservation project in Nottingham, which involved intricate painting and gilding of the cast iron, steel and stone Gothic Revival bridge structure.
• HH Smith and SoncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMain contractor on multiple heritage projects including Gorton Monastery and Rochdale Town Hall Phase II restoration, on which Hirst Conservation was appointed as specialist conservation contractor.
• Shaylor GroupcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLead contractor for the Swan Wing restoration at the Royal Shakespeare Company, with Hirst Conservation carrying out stone cleaning and conservation works as part of the £2.8m Heritage Lottery Fund project.
• Conlon Construction LimitedcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAppointed as specialist consultants to Conlon Construction Limited on behalf of Manchester City Council for decorative packages on the Our Town Hall project, investigating historic decorative schemes.
• Donald Insall AssociatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAppointed by the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust as architects overseeing works funded through a Government grant administered by Historic England. Hirst Conservation engaged as specialists for surveys to plaster ceilings, exterior statuary, paint research, scagliola, and marble floors.
• HaverstockcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking with Haverstock and other architects for Dover District Council on the Maison Dieu restoration project, undertaking architectural paint research and digital recreation to inform conservation policy.
• Robert Kilgour (Architect)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDeveloped conservation strategy for the alabaster archivolt at Tutbury Priory Church of St Mary alongside architect Robert Kilgour, including laser cleaning and consolidation treatments.
• Rochdale Development Agency and Rochdale Borough CouncilcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAppointed as part of the team working for HH Smith with Rochdale Development Agency and Rochdale Borough Council on Phase II Restoration works at Rochdale Town Hall.
• Purcell (Architects)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPurcell is the project architect for the Our Town Hall project at Manchester Town Hall and has worked with Hirst Conservation on multiple heritage projects including Delapré Abbey.
• Hutton+RostroncoreTechnology or IntegrationPart of the Palace of Westminster consortium alongside Sandberg and Conisbee for intrusive surveys as part of the Restoration and Renewal Programme.
• British Museum (Conservation Department)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHirst Conservation has visited the British Museum conservation department to discuss mutual interest in laser use in conservation. Visits to analytical facilities strengthen working relationships and knowledge exchange.
• Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHirst Conservation has been collaborating with CCI on a project in Canada, providing opportunity to exchange working practices and understanding of materials used in building conservation internationally.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lincoln Conservation: Mid-sized UK heritage conservation practice offering masonry, stone, plaster, and decorative surface conservation to cathedrals, civic buildings, and ecclesiastical clients. Directly comparable scale and service mix to Hirst Conservation.
• Cliveden Conservation: UK specialist heritage building conservation contractor delivering stone, plaster, paint, and decorative surface conservation on cathedrals, stately homes, and civic buildings — the closest direct competitor to Hirst in multi-disciplinary UK heritage conservation.
• Stonewest: UK stone conservation and restoration contractor with comparable heritage portfolio including cathedrals, monuments, and historic facades. Overlaps directly with Hirst's stone, terracotta, and monument conservation services.
• Conisbee: UK structural and conservation engineering consultancy partnering with Hirst on the Palace of Westminster framework. Comparable in providing specialist heritage survey and conservation engineering services to listed buildings.
• Sandberg: UK heritage engineering and conservation consultancy partnering with Hirst on the Palace of Westminster framework. Provides overlapping intrusive survey and conservation engineering capabilities for historic structures.
• Rupert Harris Conservation: UK fine art and sculpture conservation practice offering easel painting, frame, and sculpture conservation services. Comparable in easel paintings and monument/sculpture conservation offerings that overlap with Hirst's fine art division.
• Hutton+Rostron: UK heritage building consultancy specialising in material analysis and survey of historic buildings. Consortium partner with Hirst on the Palace of Westminster R&R framework, with overlapping paint research and analytical lab capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• Purcell: Major UK heritage and conservation architecture practice working on cathedrals, civic buildings, and stately homes. Architect of record on multiple Hirst projects (e.g., Manchester Town Hall, Delapré Abbey), making it both a partner and a broader competitor in heritage commissions.
• Donald Insall Associates: Large UK conservation architecture practice that frequently engages specialist conservation contractors. Works as both a partner (e.g., on Wentworth Woodhouse) and indirect competitor for heritage restoration commissions.

Emerging players

• WT Architecture (Wilson Trevelyan): UK chartered architectural practice with conservation specialism, bidding on heritage restoration programmes. Comparable as a smaller architectural conservation competitor for design-led heritage commissions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HConservation
• Facebookfacebook.com/HirstConservation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hirst-conservation-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hirst Conservation