The beautiful, Augustus Pugin designed and Minton manufactured, encaustic pavements, are an integral part of Sir Charles Barry’s redesign of the Palace of Westminster and showcase Pugin’s Gothic Revival style.
Years of heavy foot fall has taken its toll on the original floor tiles and Craven Dunnill Jackfield were appointed in 2008 to assist in the ambitious project of restoring the floors to their former glory. Thousands of original worn tiles have been carefully lifted by DBR London and replaced with exact replicas, or where possible, original salvageable tiles, bringing the floors back to their former vibrant splendour.
Significant product development was untaken to manufacture tiles to the original thickness of 1” and to ensure that the tiles would be hard wearing enough to withstand the millions of visitors each year to the Palace. A trial panel was laid in St Stephens Hall in 2010 and installation has continued throughout the Palace in Royal Gallery, Members Entrance, Peers Lobby and Central Lobby. This iconic project is now in its final stages with the final piece of the puzzle, the Central Lobby main roundel, soon to be installed.
