IT arrived in an incomplete, but ramshackle state, but now this rare Georgian 25ft Gillows dining table has been lovingly brought back to life by family firm of restorers AG Podmore, of Poppleton, York.

And that now-gleaming early 19th century table has been sent back to its owner, who lives in an East Yorkshire country house, in time for it to overflow with Christmas fayre.

Two of its five feet wide missing leaves had to be replaced with correct period timber salvaged from Podmore’s extensive stock and the leg base that was missing had to be remade.

Now it is an exact copy of the original, standing on 16 matching turned and reeded legs, with 13 separate leaves making up the full top.

David Podmore said: “We even had copies made of the original brass castors so a perfect match could be made, and much of the veneer used in the frame decoration was salvaged from similar period furniture to ensure a perfect match.”

Like many items of furniture manufactured at the Gillows, the Lancaster cabinet-making firm established in 1720, the dining table was made of mahogany and is thought to have been completed between 1801 and 1810.

AG Podmore & Son is soon to be featured on the ITV programme, “House Gift”, and it will reflect the company’s strong green recycling ideals, a view shared by the programme’s antiques expert, Tom Keane.

Podmore skills are evident all over the UK, even the restored seats at Britain’s new Supreme Court, or polished new tables at York Crown Court and a number of furniture items at York’s Fairfac House, including a Chippendale-style chair, two tables and a spinet.

The company was also responsible for oak woodwork for a new chapel in the crypt of St Paul’s Cathedral.