A NEW MEMBER OF STAFF!

Introducing Chester, our latest member of staff!

LASSCO is an equal opportunities organization.

NEW SHOWROOM AT BRUNSWICK HOUSE NOW OPEN!

A new LASSCO showroom, dedicated to the small and decorative, has just opened at Brunswick House, Vauxhall.

Combining an eclectic mix of 18th, 19th and 20th Century design, this warm and inviting room is filled with lighting, textiles, ceramics, prints, furniture and curiosities galore.

Please do pop along and have a look round!

Photography by James Mortimer.

WATCH THIS SPACE!

New showroom to open at Brunswick House on 8th July.

A delightful emporium of furniture and decorative items, combining an eclectic mix of 18th, 19th and 20th Century design. Lighting, furniture, natural history and soft furnishings.

PRESS CUTTING : Front Page of Time Out 02.05

LASSCO and The Lamp Maker

Paul Clayton is the last of the original gas lantern makers.

Paul originally worked for C.H Kempton & Co. but the company ceased trading in the mid 1970's. C.H Kempton was one of London's original and best copper gas lamp manufacturers (operating since the early days of the 19th Century), but was down to only four craftsmen, having existed mainly after the Second World War on refurbishment and replacing, where needed.

Paul was not pleased about the closing down of his firm and decided to become self employed as a one man concern.

Using Victorian tools, jigs and formers (many original) Paul hand makes lanterns in pure copper for the Royal Palaces, Parks and Thoroughfares, working together with North Thames Gas Board, various conservation trusts and National Heritage. Paul regards his lamps as originals, not reproductions because he has continued his work without halt since the early days of C.H Kempton & Co.

Restoration, designing and converting period lanterns has become Paul's main business, sometimes putting these beautiful lanterns back to use after 100 years. With the experience of hindsight - Paul feels that he frequently does a better job than his Victorian predecessors (judging by what he has had to repair), he has often had to make copper Imperial Crowns that after he has painted and gilded , go on top of many London gas lanterns.

These beautiful lanterns can be seen in London's most famous places including; Westminster Abbey, The Royal Parks and all the Royal residences. In total there are about two thousand gas lanterns, doing such a good job that many people do not even notice them. Fine old provincial towns and villages have have had their original gas lanterns taken down, restored and rebuilt by Paul, often converted to electricity, such as Stamford in Lincolnshire (the first conversion town) and Ditchling in Sussex.




At LASSCO St. Michael's we are proud to be associated with skilled craftsmen such as Paul and his beautiful lanterns adorn both the Church and our garden.
To see priced and measured examples of the lanterns we stock please go to the St. Michael's website and type "lantern" in the search bar.

Introducing Brunswick's friendly House Steward!

Proving he has the boots for the job! Stefan Lorett, our very own House Steward, is available by appointment, for tours of the house and its ongoing restoration.

Email: projects@lassco.co.uk

Brunswick House - Conservation Funded by Advertising

Brunswick House, for years decayed, squatted and neglected, is to be carefully restored by LASSCO. Already the scaffolding has been erected, fire alarms have been installed, work has started on the shutters, windows and doors, panelled rooms and staircases will be reinstated, plasterwork restored, flooring refurbished and the boundary wall rebuilt and the garden replanted. The brickwork pointing, at present in hard concrete, will be replaced with lime mortar, allowing the brickwork to breathe. The unique Coade Stone porch will be meticulously cleaned.

In an enlightened decision by Lambeth Council, planning consent has been granted for the installation of advertising hoardings on the scaffolding. The substantial income from these hoardings will be entirely devoted to the restoration, which is scheduled to take two years.

Under the watchful eye of English Heritage and supervised by the internationally renowned conservation architects, Giles Quarme & Associates, the restoration will be scrupulously correct in every detail.

When the scaffolding comes down it will reveal this fine riverside mansion in all its 18th century glory - a sparkling adornment to London's townscape.

Regular updates will be posted on this newspage by Project Manager and House Steward, Stefan Lorett (projects@lassco.co.uk), who will be pleased to show interested parties and groups around the House by appointment.

LASSCO will, of course, remain open for business at the House as usual.

PRESS CUTTING : "Fine antiques at the Royal Academy", The Times 04.05.06