Duchy of Cornwall office, historic facade restoration, 10 Buckingham Gate, Westminster, SW1
London Architectural Stonemasonry completed a full exterior restoration of the historic Duchy of Cornwall office at 10 Buckingham Gate, SW1E. Tasks included removing 50 layers of paint, masonry repair, sculptural reinstatement and mineral painting, revitalising the Grade II listed Victorian facade.
During this project we:
- Removed over 50 layers of non-breathable paint from the the 650m² facade, using chemical strippers and DOFF steam cleaning.
- Devised a water-capture system to ensure safety in a high-profile central London location (opposite Buckingham Palace).
- Conducted detailed condition surveys after each façade section was stripped.
- Repaired and reinstated stone and stucco details using lime-based conservation mortars.
- Replicated damaged balustrade elements in Bath stone using in-house templates and carving.
- Restored the Prince of Wales’s feathers emblem with a new hand-carved replica created in our workshop.
- Removed old cementitious repairs and replaced them with breathable lime mortars.
- Applied lime patch coats followed by over 1000 litres of Keim mineral silicate paint.
- Completed the full restoration in under one year, working closely with the client and design team.
Pictured: The restored Victorian façade at 10 Buckingham Gate by London Architectural Stonemasonry
“The results are spectacular: the building’s mid-Victorian façade has been returned to its original clarity, with every architectural feature crisp, legible and historically faithful. The use of breathable materials ensures that the building can now shed moisture naturally, protecting it from further decay.”
Scroll down for more information about this project.
More information: Restoration of 10 Buckingham Gate, Westminster, London SW1E 6LA
Gallery: The restored exterior of the Duchy of Cornwall office, by the London Architectural Stonemasonry team
Our complex and highly detailed restoration of the exterior of 10 Buckingham Gate, a Duchy of Cornwall office, highlights London Architectural Stonemasonry’s expertise in large-scale, heritage-led façade restoration.
Designed by Sir James Pennethorne, a distinguished 19th-century architect and protégé of John Nash, the building was completed in 1854. A Grade II listed property, located in the Birdcage Walk Conservation Area and directly facing Buckingham Palace, it’s a notable example of mid-Victorian Italianate palazzo-style architecture.
Constructed with a richly detailed stucco façade and slate roof, the building features a splayed corner block, Corinthian columns, Venetian windows, balustraded balconies, enriched cornices, and dentil friezes. The architectural detailing reflects both the ambitions of its original function and the Duchy’s long-standing presence in central London.
Video slideshow: How London Architectural Stonemasonry restored 10 Buckingham Gate’s facade
Challenge: Decades of trapped moisture behind thick paint layers
Although the building had been regularly decorated as part of cyclical maintenance, it had not undergone any comprehensive restoration for several decades. Over time, up to 50 layers of non-breathable masonry paint had built up, trapping moisture within the building’s stone and stucco and causing hidden decay beneath the surface.
Because of the building’s highly visible and sensitive location – just metres from Buckingham Palace – removing this layered paint build-up required a carefully managed approach that avoided disruption to the public or damage to the richly detailed façade. Stripping back the coatings safely and effectively was essential before any restoration could begin.
Pictured: An example of damage to the facade revealed by paint removal at 10 Buckingham Gate
Solution: Cleaning, restoring, and repainting the richly detailed stucco and stone facade
To begin, our team used a combination of conservation-grade chemical stripping agents – nearly 2000kg in total, alongside the DOFF III superheated steam cleaning system, which operates at temperatures up to 150°C. This process allowed us to clean and strip over 650m² of highly intricate architectural detail, including cornices, dentils, balustrades, pilasters, Venetian windows, and enriched friezes.
Given the building’s central London location, a water-capture system was devised to ensure environmental safety and public protection. Work was scheduled outside of peak hours, and the stripping process was phased one facade at a time. Following the cleaning of each area, our team conducted a detailed condition survey, allowing a precise and costed repair plan to be developed for each elevation.
Pictured: A stonemason restoring the facade
Gallery: Our team restoring the facade of the Duchy of Cornwall office
Two rotating teams of four operatives handled the application and removal processes, supported by a full-time site-based project manager. Once paint removal was complete, six of our highly skilled stonemasons undertook extensive repairs across the facade. This included reprofiling and reinstating the original crisp architectural lines on the string courses, cornices, dentils, pilasters, window surrounds, plinths, and balustrades, using lime-based conservation mortars.
Where elements were too damaged to be retained, such as sections of the balustrade, we replicated them in Bath stone, using templates and in-house carving in our workshop.
Gallery: Restoration of the Prince of Wales’s feathers heraldic emblem
Gallery: Photos of our restoration of the heraldic emblem on the facade of the Duchy of Cornwall office; from the damaged original, to our clay model, to our carved replacement
One of the technically demanding elements of the project was our restoration of the Prince of Wales’s feathers heraldic emblem under the portico. The original had deteriorated significantly, so we carefully removed it and transported it to our workshop. There, we sculpted a clay model, allowing precise control over the design. Once approved, our stonemasons carved the final piece using traditional hand tools combined with specialist precision masonry drill bits – a process that combined artistic accuracy with technical excellence.
On the wider facade, many earlier repairs had used cementitious mortars, which sealed in moisture and led to further damage. We removed these and reinstated repairs with breathable lime mortars. This applied to both natural stone and stucco, the latter of which had historically been used to imitate carved stonework while allowing intricate designs to be formed at lower cost.
Once repairs were complete, we applied a lime patch coat to unify the surface and ensure breathability. Our team then repainted the exterior using Keim mineral silicate paint, a high-performance breathable system that allows the building to shed moisture naturally. Over 1000 litres of Keim paint were applied in two coats across all three elevations. This final stage of the project took approximately 2.5 months, completing the restoration with a protective and historically appropriate finish.
Result: A full facade transformation
Our full restoration of the Duchy of Cornwall Office at 10 Buckingham Gate took just under a year to complete.
The results are spectacular: the building’s mid-Victorian facade has been returned to its original clarity, with every architectural feature crisp, legible and historically faithful.
The use of breathable materials ensures that the building can now shed moisture naturally, protecting it from further decay.
Its renewed facade is another demonstration of London Architectural Stonemasonry’s ability to deliver complex, prestigious, heritage restoration in central London.
Pictured: The restored facade, by London Architectural Stonemasonry
If you are responsible for the care of a listed or historic building in London and are facing similar issues of paint decay, stone failure, or lost detailing, speak to the team at London Architectural Stonemasonry.
Whether you need large-scale paint removal, expert stone repairs, or conservation-led decorative carving, we have the tools, team, and experience to bring your building back to life.
