Henley-on-Thames: Stained glass windows returned to Greys Court

The art was common in Switzerland and southern Germany from the late 1400s

Centuries-old stained glass windows, which had become cracked and damaged, have been reinstalled in a Tudor house following intricate repairs.

The five Swiss art panels, known as Wappenscheiben, featured in Greys Court near Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

Thought to date from as early as the 15th Century, the panes had been stressed by weight and changing temperatures, the National Trust said.

An exhibition about their history will begin at the house on 12 February.

The new exhibition, telling the story of their origin and restoration, will go on display in the 16th Century mansion's library.

Displayed in the landing window on the stairs, the panels were first installed after Sir Felix Brunner bought Greys Court in 1937 and were part of his grandfather's collection of Swiss ceramics, furniture and weaponry.

Designs include religious stories and paintings of everyday life, in both painted and stained glass, according to the National Trust.

On several of the panes is the Brunner family crest - a water fountain on a red background.

In 2019, the stained glass panels were found to be suffering from bearing weight after being embedded with the leaded lights of the window.

Following this, the panels were removed and then put back with clear UV light-protecting glass, enabling them to be independent from the rest of the window.

In one scene, St Ida is pictured being thrown from a window at the top of a castle

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