Bentley Priory, Stanmore

Bentley Priory, Stanmore was founded in 1170 by Ranulf de Glanville who became the Chief Justiciary of England. In the 1500’s it ceased being a priory with the land changing ownership including King Henry VIII and later during the 1840’s the aunt of Queen Victoria, Dowager Queen Adelaide. It was later sold to Sir John Kelk who added a picture gallery, clocktower conservatories and the creation of the Italian Gardens.

In 1882 the priory was converted into a hotel, and later became a Girl’s School in 1908 before closing in the 1920’s when the estate was divided with around 40 acres being sold to the Air Ministry in 1926. The RAF were Bentley Priory’s longest serving residents, leaving in 2008.

After 8 years of planning and fundraising, Bentley Priory Museum opened in 2013 with an exhibition on ground level and apartments to the upper floors.

During 2019 to 2022, it was decided that Bentley Priory required a freshen up. The architect wanted to keep the look of the limewash effect but use a much more durable paint system. KEIM Paints were approached due to its longevity and durability. It was proposed that the existing limewash render was removed using the DOFF system (a high temperature, low pressure method).

KEIM Silan Primer was applied to the lower section of the ground floor up to approximately 1 metre high to provide extra water repellency. A coat of KEIM Royalan Grob was applied to equalise the render. To create a limewash effect, KEIM Royalan, in colour ST013, was used, followed by brush application of KEIM Design Lasur, in a bespoke colour, diluted with KEIM Design Base at a 4:1 ratio (4 parts KEIM Design Base to 1 part KEIM Design Lasur).

Now, Bentley Priory can stand for over 10 years before redecoration is to commence again, due to the longevity and durability of KEIM Mineral Paints.