SAMPLE PROJECT
Fishmongers Hall, City of London
Year of original build:
1834
Location:
London
Project dates:
2016 - 2025
Client:
Worshipful Company of Fishmongers
Contract Administrator:
CBRE Heritage
Brief:
Design Lead, polychromatic scheme design
Specialist Decorators:
Campbell Smith Ltd, Sykes Ltd
Fishmongers Hall
Since 1310, three versions of Fishmongers Hall have stood on London Bridge, prior to the present hall which opened to the public in 1834. Designed by Henry Roberts, this Hall is now recognised as one of the finest examples of the English Greek revival style.
The 2016 interior
Sadly, this iconic interior had become very degraded by 2016, lacking both decorative cohesion and quality of finish. Widespread delamination had occurred across much of the painted surface; an issue caused by soft distemper, exacerbated by modern repair method and contemporary paint.
In response however, the necessary repairs became an opportunity to carry out a comprehensive representation of all of the ceremonial areas of the building. Now acknowledged as 'generational', this series of interventions spanning a decade delivered an appropriate and structured decorative hierarchy for the first time since the late 1890s.
A 10 year masterplan for decorative representation
In 2017, Dolby Design was commissioned to develop the headline scheme for the Fishmongers' Banqueting Hall, marking the beginning of a ten year interior representation. The project incorporated rigorous paint analysis and a strong conservation philosophy, to record all previous treatments and schemes. Beyond achieving a refined aesthetic, meticulous attention was given to process, to revitalise not only the building’s magnificent interior, but also to establish a significantly improved decorative lifecycle through this intervention.
As design lead, Timothy Dolby provided the vision and helped create the contractor specification, thus overseeing both the creative and technical realisation of this ambitious undertaking. Approvals were secured at every stage, first through Client Committee and subsequently via Historic England, with CBRE Heritage managing the process.