Today

The Story Continues…

Rose of Jericho continues to enjoy a strong reputation at the forefront of the building conservation industry. We undertake research, analysis and consultancy whilst manufacturing and supplying authentic handmade materials for the care, repair and maintenance of historic and traditional buildings. Working with many leading industry professionals we continue to develop the understanding of traditional materials and their use from our Horchester Farm workshops in the rolling Dorset hills.

2018

Peter Ellis passes on the baton.

Although beyond retirement age and having passed the management of the Company to the next generation, Peter is still actively involved and continues to provide expert materials analysis and consultancy for a wide range of historic building projects, and leads the popular interactive CPD sessions that the Company now offers to Architects, Surveyors and Property Managers.

2003-2018

Rose of Jericho Grows

The Company grew steadily during this period, and Rose of Jericho products have been used in countless prestigious projects and on many of the most iconic and culturally important buildings including all five mainland Historic Royal Palaces, many Cathedrals and countless Stately Homes in both public and private ownership. The Company developed an international reputation supplying materials and services for projects in America, Canada, Trinidad, Myanmar, Singapore, New Zealand and Europe.

2003

The Re-Birth of Rose of Jericho Ltd

In 2003, St Blaise itself experienced financial difficulties and Peter Ellis completed a management buy-out. Rose of Jericho Ltd was reborn and continued to develop and expand its product range focused on authenticity and quality during Peter’s ownership.

2001

Move to Horchester Farm

By 2001, Rose of Jericho had outgrown the premises in Evershot that it shared with St Blaise Ltd and mortar, paint and materials manufacture and supply was moved to a bigger site at Horchester Farm between Yeovil and Dorchester where it continues to this day. 

1991-2003

The St Blaise Years

St Blaise assembled a team of craftsmen at the forefront of the lime revival at a time when interest in traditional materials and methods were undergoing a renaissance.  Peter Ellis, a Project Manager at St Blaise with a background in the conservation of paintings became responsible for Rose of Jericho at St Blaise in 1992.

A period of study and investigation followed.  Various sources of lime were slaked and putty matured in pits; sands, aggregates and pozzolanic materials were assessed.  Analytical tests and procedures developed and historic mortars analysed, traditional paint recipes researched, sources of historic pigments identified and paint formulations agreed.

During this period St Blaise undertook conservation and sensitive repair work to many of Britain’s most important buildings, including repairs after the catastrophic fires at Uppark, Prior Park and Windsor Castle.

1991

Rose of Jericho at St Blaise Ltd

St Blaise was a specialist Dorset-based historic building conservation company with an enviable reputation founded by a group of talented individuals led by the late Ian Constantinides. Lime mortars, plasters and traditional paints were manufactured for use on their own projects, St Blaise recognised that the purchase of Rose of Jericho would strengthen and help develop the materials side of the business.

Mortars and paints were promoted and offered for sale to owners of historic buildings. Total sales in the first month of trading amounted to £18.20.

Mighty oaks from little acorns grow!

Rose of Jericho at St Blaise was born.

1989

Rose of Jericho is born…

Rose of Jericho first traded from the Jericho Works at Deene near Corby, Northamptonshire, managed by Peter Hood who had originally trained under John Fowler. The Company manufactured a range of traditional limewash and distemper paints, slaked lime to produce lime putty and produced non-hydraulic mortars often employing the hot-mix method. This original incarnation was not commercially stable and was soon in financial difficulty.