Specialising in Heritage & conservation on period luminairs & based in the West Midlands near the welsh border. Our experienced team offers you a selection of services tailored to your conservation project. From site visit, collection & delivery. A flexibility that seperates us from many national firms making the luminaire process of your project easier.
With over 80+ years of combined experience, we have become your trusted name in both high-end residential & public heritage projects, restoring & recreating historic luminaries with precision and respect for their original craftsmanship.
We have extensive experience working within listed buildings and conservation environments, and maintain all documentation required for public sector and council projects, including:
• Full RAMS documentation
• PAT Testing certification
• Pasma certification
• IPAF certification
• Public Liability Insurance
• Comprehensive Health & Safety policies
We also maintain ongoing communication with English Heritage and other conservation bodies to ensure our methods and documentation meet sector expectations.
‘Fritz Fryer was appointed by Michael Nugent to undertake the restoration of some important examples of period lighting at the iconic The Grand Hotel, Birmingham.
These luminaires needed to be sensitively restored and carefully modified to incorporate Dali dimmable drivers, emergency packs and reliable energy efficient LED illumination.
The Fritz Fryer team completed this project on time, within budget and were professional throughout.
Michael Nugent highly recommends their services and we look forward to working with them again on future projects’
Michael Nugent
“I am delighted with the new lights from Fritz Fryer.
From the elegant gasolier in the Drawing Room to the maid’s oil lamp in the Scullery, they are going to make a real impact on the visitor experience, enabling visitors to step back to the 19th century.
They illuminate our museum in more ways than one and provide an evocative atmosphere for all who step through our door.”
LAUREN KINNEAR
Working with the team at Fritz Fryer was a thoroughly enjoyable and collaborative experience.
They have a deep understanding of manufacturing techniques, making it easy to develop bespoke solutions that met the brief and budget, whilst also creating beautiful products.
Being UK based is a huge benefit, which allowed us to efficiently prototype and refine the design. They are great people to work with and the end product is of the highest standard. Simon’s eyewear game is also strong – I rate this.
TOM NIVEN
Looking to restore or conserve a piece of historic lighting? It’s about much more than simply bringing an old light back to life. It’s about protecting its character, respecting its history and making sure it can be enjoyed for generations to come.
Bringing historic lighting up to modern electrical safety standards requires a careful balance between preservation and practicality. Our specialist team sympathetically rewires historic luminaires, ensuring they are safe for continued use while protecting their original character, materials and construction. Wherever possible, we minimise alterations to the existing fittings, retaining historically significant features while discreetly incorporating modern electrical components.
Preserving original materials and craftsmanship is always at the forefront of our approach. Wherever practical, we carefully repair and conserve existing components rather than replace them, helping to maintain the authenticity and historical integrity of each luminaire. When an original component is beyond viable repair, we work to source or recreate a sympathetic replacement, using materials and techniques that closely match the original. Any replacements are carefully considered to ensure they complement the fitting’s design, quality and heritage significance.
Not every historic luminaire requires a complete restoration. Sometimes, a thorough and carefully considered clean is all that’s needed to reveal its original beauty. Our experienced team can expertly dismantle, clean and reassemble period fittings, using appropriate techniques to protect delicate finishes, materials and historic details. Throughout the process, we carefully inspect each component, identifying any signs of deterioration or potential safety concerns. Should further conservation or repair work be recommended, we’ll provide a clear assessment and discuss the options with you before proceeding.
We’re fortunate to work with historic luminaires that have never been converted for electric use, offering a unique opportunity to preserve their original craftsmanship while adapting them for modern life. Our specialist team can sympathetically convert former gas and candle fittings for electrical use, carefully considering the original construction, materials and historical significance of each piece. Our approach prioritises minimal intervention, discreet electrical integration and the retention of original features wherever possible, ensuring these remarkable fittings can continue to be appreciated and safely enjoyed for generations to come.
Historic lighting wasn’t always designed with today’s electrical systems, building requirements or installation methods in mind. Where modifications are necessary, our team carefully considers how best to adapt existing luminaires for modern use without compromising their historic character. From discreet alterations to mounting arrangements and electrical components through to improvements in functionality and accessibility, every intervention is approached with sensitivity. We aim to retain as much original material as possible, ensuring any proposed modifications are appropriate to the fitting’s heritage significance and agreed upon before work begins.
All of our conservation & restoration work is carried out as authentically as possible, while giving full consideration to current
British and EU safety standards.
Antique light fittings fall outside of the LVD (Low Voltage Directive) and Luminaire Safety Standard EN
60598-1, as they are not new to market. However, we follow these standards wherever feasible.
In cases where an antique’s design prevents full compliance (for example, the base weight of a delicate table lamp may not meet modern stability tests), we clearly document these exceptions and advise accordingly.
We are dedicated to preserving the history and integrity of every piece we restore.
We are proud to offer you the services of specialist craftsmen with a total of 80+ years of combined experience.
Your not only entrusting a company, your gaining a lighting partner, someone who will be with you through every.
A team that cares, our team of lighting specialists are passionate about all things lighting and chrrish the opportunity to work with you and your project.
We understand that to working on prestigious light fixtures deserve high quality tools and fixtures, so we will use only the best.
Getting the lights to our workshop and even un-installing them can become an uneccasery headache, we are here to help you solve this.
Looking to conserve a historic fitting or simply aren’t sure where to start, we’re here to help. Our friendly team of restoration specialists will happily talk through your project, answer your questions and help you find the right approach to preserving your lighting for years to come.
