Our Story
Rose of Jericho was founded in the late 1980s in the period immediately after the ‘lime method', developed by Eve and Robert Baker, was employed so successfully for the repair and conservation of the figure sculptures on the West Front of Wells Cathedral. These were exciting times, born of the recognition that non-permeable mortars, plasters and paints were inappropriate for, and indeed often accelerated the decay of our built heritage. The use of lime was a near-forgotten practice, as cement mortars, gypsum plasters and non-breathable emulsion paints had become the norm. Building construction books and courses only mentioned lime as a workability additive for cement mortars. This had to change!
Origins in Conservation (1989)
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 St Blaise Years (1991-2003)
St Blaise, a respected Dorset-based conservation company founded by the late Ian Constantinides, acquired Rose of Jericho to strengthen its traditional materials work during the lime revival, with Peter Ellis, then a Project Manager with a background in painting conservation, taking responsibility for the business in 1992. 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.
Horchester Farm (2001)
By 2001, Rose of Jericho had outgrown the premises in Evershot that it shared with St Blaise Ltd. The 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.
The Rebirth and Scaling of Rose of Jericho Ltd (2003-2018)
In 2003, following a management buyout by Peter Ellis, Rose of Jericho was reborn as an independent company, growing steadily and supplying authentic materials for prestigious projects, including all five mainland Historic Royal Palaces, major cathedrals, and iconic stately homes, a period of growth and influence that continued until 2018.
Peter Ellis Passes On The Baton (2018 - Today)
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.
The Story Continues… (Today)
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.
Careers and Apprenticeships
Since Rose of Jericho was established we have aimed to produce the very best handmade products, using traditional materials and methods, and we are always interested to hear from talented, enthusiastic individuals who share our ethos.
We offer work experience, work placement and apprenticeship opportunities to encourage the next generation of conservators and heritage professionals to join the industry.