The Victorian shop front is located in Dartmouth, The Quay, in Devon where many historical buildings can be visited.  The main building dates back to the seventeenth century also the premises were used by boat equipment merchants and the decoration of the shop front does include two figureheads ( generally found at the prow of ships ). Each of the figureheads are supporting a pediment or pinnacle.

The condition of the building  and its location very close to the sea (40 yards) did contribute for the shop front to deteriorate. One of the corbels was partially dissolved by exposure from sea air but mostly by the rain leaking from damaged gutters and roof.

I came to site first to scrape off the paint from the corbels also to take measurements of the missing pediment and other minors elements. I recorded the dismantling process then brought the figurehead to a dry shop where the carvings could settle and discarded the wood rot.

After consolidating the figurehead, I carved a new pediment of Oregon Pine matching the original. The pediment and the corbel were assembled then mounted onto the shopfront, as for the other fixed corbel which also needed attention, the conservation work was completed onsite. I made a clay model of the missing part , carved  and finalized onsite  from a scaffolding.

About Dartmouth, the Quay (click here)