Round window - stained glass????

OK, this is a bit of a sad story really. Whilst driving through a local town I noticed a demolition team about to get stuck into what appeared to be an old barn, and when i stopped to speak to the chap in charge he informed me that the entire site was being 'redeveloped.' Shocking, as the building they were about to rip down was beautiful, albeit derelict and somewhat overgrown.

I asked if i could have a nose around and he actually took me in; it used to be an old slaughter house and had a huge amount of period features, very very low ceilings and doors, hooks from all of the beams and so on. What really stood out for me was the round windows high up in the structure, both on the sides and in the gable ends. Demolition was literally about to begin so when i showed an interest in the round window frames the chap said if i could remove them safely then i could take them.





Off i went to collect some tools, a ladder and my father(!), and one of the complete round window frames now sits in the room above my garage. The others were just too high to safely remove in the time we had. Unfortunately i stood by and watched the others, and in fact the entire building get smashed down shortly after i removed this



I was wondering whether anybody knows of somebody who could create a round stained glass window for this frame for me? Not sure what i am going to do with it yet, but it certainly is a lovely thing and is in perfect condition. Would look fantastic in the gable end of my kitchen.... Internal diameter is 21inches and the external diameter is 35inches.

Cheers Martin.

Martin, being pedantic do you really mean stained glass or are you thinking of a leaded light?

Not sure where you are in Staffs but I'm near Telford in Shropshire - this chap did the restoration of my Victorian leaded light window - in fact the "repair and restoration" pictures on his site are my window.

http://inspirationalglassbyadgs.com/page4.htm

My window is also on this old thread:-

http://periodproperty.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=11206&hilit=stained+glass

Lovely guy, took a lot of trouble to get it right, even travelling down to Peterborough to match up some old glass to my (broken) originals. He does new work as well to your spec.

Oh great save!

I take it you don't fancy doing your own stained / leaded glass. Go on it makes great hobby (if only I had the time). If you've got the hand and head for craft skills it easy to pick up the techniques.

That is just what I am after!! I will drop them an email and see what they have to say. Thanks!

Btw - your door looks amazing

Not sure i'd have the time or skills to have a go myself unfortunately. I could certainly help with the design phase as i (or should i say we) have a few ideas already.

It is a lovely thing and at least one part of the building got saved i guess.

what a great find! makes me so sad that these "unwanted" period features get thrown in a skip, makes my heart ache but well done you for saving it xxx

Er...happen I do a bit of the stained glass. See our website at http://www.colouredlight.tithefarm.biz/

(Gosh, I've just realised how out of date that website is - haven't updated it for ages - been too busy!)

Beautiful work there Biff.

Ta, we like a bit o' colouring in.

Hello,

I do stained glass and have actually just made a frame and window for my own house. Its probably a little OTT for most but it was designed to obscure the window and add colour.






http://www.oldhousesalvage.co.uk

Let me know if you need any assistance.


Thanks,
Steven

For something a bit different.

http://www.tamsinsglass.co.uk/

Well done for saving that dinglem! It's a very sweet feature.

Well done for saving it.

I once made a bit of fake "stained glass" just by cutting some thin strips from self-adhesive lead flashing, sticking them on both sides of the glass in a random arrangement, and then colouring the spaces with thinned artist's laquer. From a distance high up on a wall it looks quite realistic.
My style was an old coat of arms in a clock tower. It's weathering now, and the ivy is coming on nicely.

Many thanks for all of the suggestions and links to various web sites. I will have a look and see what i like, and then ignore that and do whatever the lady of the house commands.

I wonder if the building was originally built as an abbatoir? My basic point being that I can't imagine anyone including such features in a utilitarian building these days, so why did they do it in the 'good old days'. It can't just be a cost issue, surely, because regardless of cheap labour back then (if it ever really existed) it must have been relatively far more expensive to go to the trouble of including a lovely stone-built round window, and thus some character to the building, than simply leaving a square opening framed with four bits of wood. Where did it all go wrong?

Still, it's a nice 'save' and it would be to see a photo when it's installed in its new home.

I guess it would be impossible to know the original intended use of the building, although it did have beautifully tiled drainage gully's all across the floors beneath the hooks on the beams so i presume they were for regularly washing away and cleaning the floors. I really should have taken some more photo's. I guess 'they just don't make em like they used to...'

There were 4 of these identical round windows in all, plus a matching semi-circular one with a flat bottom on the lower floor. I couldn't get to that one either as it was right up against another more modern building and the narrow passage between the two was securely fenced-off.

I must admit it did feel very wrong taking said window surround out of the structure, but on reflection I am pleased i went to the trouble now.

I will get some pics uploaded once it is fitted.