The Leather Conservation Centre

The Leather Conservation Centre An internationally renowned organisation offering a comprehensive leather conservation service.

The Leather Conservation Centre was established in 1978 and is an internationally renowned organisation offering a comprehensive service in the conservation and restoration of objects (including books and other archival materials) of historic, cultural and artistic importance made wholly or partly of leather or its related materials. Clients include museums, libraries, historic houses and many more. The Leather Conservation Centre also supplies a small range of materials for leather conservation and leather conservation publications.If you have any questions or would like a quotation for conservation work, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Guided by LCC staff, this friendly, informal workshop introduces foundational bookbinding skills, from paper decoration ...
08/10/2026

Guided by LCC staff, this friendly, informal workshop introduces foundational bookbinding skills, from paper decoration (marbling and paste paper) to learning about different book structures and binding techniques, including sewing on cords and tapes, cloth and leather bindings and decorative elements such gold tooling and sewing endbands

Participants will create a series of small hand-bound books to take home and gain the confidence to continue exploring bookbinding in future sessions. Open to all, no previous experience required.

Tickets for a group of 6 sessions over the course of 6 months are available for £150 (working out at £25 per session), as well as single tickets for drop in sessions (£25 per session).

Available to book now via our link in bio
Course Leader: Rosie Bolton
Location: LCC Studio
Dates: 7th February, 7th March, 4th April, 2nd May, 6th June, 4th July
Time: 10:30am - 12:30pm
Cost: £150 for 6 sessions/£25 per drop-in session

We are delighted to be featured in The World of Interiors‘The Hide Seekers’ takes readers behind the scenes at the Leath...
07/10/2026

We are delighted to be featured in The World of Interiors

‘The Hide Seekers’ takes readers behind the scenes at the Leather Conservation Centre, exploring the craft, knowledge and specialist skills involved in caring for leather and the many stories held within it.

From historic gilt leather and fragile sheepskin to mid-century furniture, bookbindings and some rather unexpected materials, the article explores the remarkable variety of objects that make their way to our conservation studio, and the expertise needed to understand and care for them.

Read the full article, The Hide Seekers, by Millen Brown-Ewens, here: https://www.worldofinteriors.com/story/leather-conservation-centre-leicester

Treatment...With both the scabbard and the riding crop suffering from the same underlying challenges, brittle, acidic le...
06/10/2026

Treatment...

With both the scabbard and the riding crop suffering from the same underlying challenges, brittle, acidic leather with significant surface loss. Our treatment approach followed a similar path for each.

All areas of leather were first consolidated with Klucel G at 2% in isopropanol, a cellulose-based consolidant that imparts strength to fragile leather fibres and minimises the loss from powdering..

Where stitching had been lost and leather had become misaligned, the edges were carefully repositioned and reinforced with Japanese tissue toned to match the surrounding leather, adhered with Lascaux acrylic dispersion adhesive. Vulnerable areas of loss on the riding crop were similarly patched with toned Japanese tissue. Finally, Renaissance wax with a light tint of added pigment was applied to the surface of both objects to improve appearance and provide a degree of surface protection.

While the treatment results are visible, the history of both objects remains present on their surface too.

A three-day deep dive in the primary materials and techniques needed to stabilise and preserve leather and skin material...
01/10/2026

A three-day deep dive in the primary materials and techniques needed to stabilise and preserve leather and skin materials for practicing conservators. This course aims to give a practical grounding and focuses on exploring these materials to prepare you for the next object with leather or skin material components that comes to your bench.

The course material presumes previous understanding of conservation ethics and confidence in differentiating between different types of skin based materials.

Course Leader: Rosie Bolton
Location: LCC Studio
Date: Wed 27th - Fri 29th Jan 2027
Time: 10:00-16:00 Daily
Cost: £660

Contact [email protected] to book a place. Please note we keep group sizes small so courses can sell out quickly.

We are delighted to share that the Leather Conservation Centre has been featured in Cabana Magazine's Atlas of Craftsman...
30/09/2026

We are delighted to share that the Leather Conservation Centre has been featured in Cabana Magazine's Atlas of Craftsmanship.

In "Endangered Expertise: The Story of Leather Conservation", our Head of Centre, Rosie Bolton, talks to Lucrezia Lucas about leather's long history, why so much of the knowledge behind making and caring for it is at risk of being lost, and how our small team works to keep that expertise alive. From gilt leather wall hangings to historic car interiors, the article offers a glimpse inside our studio.

Thank you to Cabana Magazine for such a thoughtful piece. Read the full article through the link in our bio.

Red Rot: What Is It? This is a form of acid deterioration that primarily affects vegetable tanned leather produced in t...
30/09/2026

Red Rot: What Is It?

This is a form of acid deterioration that primarily affects vegetable tanned leather produced in the post-industrial period until the mid 20th century. The leather becomes brittle and powdery, losing structural integrity from within. It is exacerbated by a combination of environmental factors. Once this degradation is catalysed it cannot be reversed, only slowed. Left untreated, affected leather will continue to deteriorate until it becomes powder.

It is visually observable through a powdering surface and can be further confirmed with a pH test indicating a range significantly lower than what we expect leather to be. A key part of our treatment on this object involved consolidation of the leather to improve the strength and reduce the powdering surface.

Sword, Scabbard & Riding Crop...These three objects arrived together, each with its own material complexity. The scabbar...
15/09/2026

Sword, Scabbard & Riding Crop...

These three objects arrived together, each with its own material complexity.

The scabbard is a leather-covered wooden body with a metal collar at the mouth and a narrow leather suspension strap secured with a metal rivet and stitching. The sword inside has a straight steel blade and a brass guard with decorative scrollwork, and its grip is covered in what appears to be shagreen leather made from stingray skin, a material with a distinctive pearl-like pebble grain texture that was commonly used for decorative objects and features such as military sword handles.

The riding crop is a wooden shaft covered in leather, with a weighted terminal end incorporating what appears to be a cast lead insert. By the time it arrived with us, the upper end of the crop had become dissociated from the body, and extensive surface loss and flaking was visible across the upper half.

These microscopy images give a sense of just how much information is visible at close range, with the individual fibres of the leather, the wood structure inside the scabbard, and the extent of grain surface loss revealed in more detail. Close examination informs our decisions and approach to treatment.

Create your own one-of-a-kind Christmas ornament using the rare historic technique of gilt leather making. In this hands...
03/09/2026

Create your own one-of-a-kind Christmas ornament using the rare historic technique of gilt leather making. In this hands-on workshop, you'll work with historic wooden gilt leather moulds and hand punches to emboss leather and gild a design of your own, learning the hand skills behind a largely forgotten art form which was once hugely influential and sought after across the world.

No previous experience is needed. All materials and tools will be provided. By the end of the session, you will understand the history and traditional uses of gilt leather, learn how moulds and punches are used to create raised, patterned designs, practise application of delicate metal leaf to leather and learn about Mecca gilding techniques, leaving with your own gilded leather Christmas ornament.

Available to book now via our link in bio
Course Leader: Beth Elford
Location: LCC Studio
Date: Sat 28th November 2026
Time: 10AM - 12PM
Cost: £45

Here are some behind the scenes photos from our Leathercraft for Young Makers Workshop... This workshop provided the op...
03/09/2026

Here are some behind the scenes photos from our Leathercraft for Young Makers Workshop...

This workshop provided the opportunity for young makers ages 7-16 to practice saddle stitch, as well as making their own triangular coin purse from scratch practicing hands-on leathercraft skills each step of the way.

The day is structured to encourage curiosity, creativity, and confidence, with plenty of time to experiment, ask questions, and enjoy the process of making. No previous experience is needed, and all materials and tools are provided. Activities are designed to be age-appropriate, with a strong emphasis on safe handling, creativity, and enjoyment rather than technical perfection.

This workshop is ideal for children who enjoy hands-on activities, craft, and learning how things are made, and for families looking to spend a relaxed, creative day together. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for our next iteration of this workshop, as each one offers something different to learn.

A Ceremonial Heirloom...This ceremonial WW1 sword, scabbard, and riding crop were brought in by the dependents of the or...
02/09/2026

A Ceremonial Heirloom...

This ceremonial WW1 sword, scabbard, and riding crop were brought in by the dependents of the original owner. The leather on both the scabbard and the riding crop was clearly in poor condition. The surface was brittle and powdering showing signs of a form of acid deterioration known as red rot, which is one of the most challenging conditions we encounter in leather conservation.

Objects like these are irreplaceable, and without intervention, the deterioration can be rapid and devastating. Over the next few posts, we will share how we approached this treatment...

Address

The Leather Conservation Centre, Canopy
Northampton
LE16WB

Telephone

01604719766

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