Examples of conservation and historic buildings restoration
Projects Summary
Hopton Castle, Shropshire[back to top]
Work is now well underway to conserve and repair Hopton Castle, a Scheduled Ancient Monument tucked away in the South Shropshire hills. Already the interior of the building has been significantly transformed by the removal of over two hundred cubic metres of tallus, revealing excellent examples of the original stonework. Whilst not an enviable task, it was made rather more interesting by the use of a diesel powered mono rail to move the material about the site without impacting on the archaeologically sensitive landscape. Other interesting discoveries have also been made including a most impressive garderobe chamber. The chamber was discovered after excavation of the motte and was found to have been filled, possibly around the time of the civil war siege, with timber and rubble from the building. The contents were carefully removed and set aside for archaeological study and are expected to reveal numerous important finds. Also of interest is the construction of the chamber, found to be of an exceptional quality and sophistication. Who'd have thought a loo could illustrate so clearly the high status of a building as well as the fine crafstmanship of those employed to build it!
The project is the culmination of many years of hard work by the Hopton Castle Preservation Trust who in 2006 secured around a million pounds from the Heritage Lottery fund and other sources, allowing the castle to be purchased and the ambitious conservation project to be undertaken. Cbs.ltd are engaged to consolidate the entire castle remains including the installation of hundreds of cintec anchors, the dismantling and rebuilding of large sections of the masonry, lime pointing, conservation of surviving plaster and the building of the access infrastructure that will enable the Trust to safely open the castle and its grounds to the public.
Settlement on the site can be dated as far back as the Norman invasion, though the age of the existing building is a lot harder to date. It shows signs of 12th and 13th century features although archaeologists argue that it may have been built a couple of centuries later in a deliberately old fashioned style.
The castle gained notoriety during the civil war when it was home to the Wallop family, staunch parliamentarians in an otherwise royalist area. Royalists laid siege to the castle for almost a month which culminated in the bloody massacre of the garrison. For more about Hopton Castle visit www.hoptoncastle.org.uk
Total Value: £600K
Position: Principal Contractor
Client: Hopton Castle Trust
Architect: John Wheatley
The Church of St John the Baptist, Ruyton XI Towns, Shropshire.[back to top]
Situated close to the site of a medieval castle this Grade I listed Church dates in part to the 12th century with the tower being dated from the 14th century. The tower, constructed principally of local red sandstone, houses a bell chamber with 6 bells and a late 19th century clock. Cbs.ltd are dismantling and rebuilding in the region of 32 tonnes of tower parapet masonry to allow for the removal of existing iron cramps and the insertion of new structural stainless steel. In addition we are pointing in lime mortar, carrying out timber repairs, re-slating the tower roof and installing new leadwork and parapet gutters.
Total Value: £60K
Position: Principal Contractor
Client: Rev Les Foster
Architect: Nigel Warner of Donald Insall Associates
The Rutland Memorial Fountain, Dublin, Ireland.[back to top]
In February 2009 at the invitation of David Slattery Architects, Cbs personnel travelled to Dublin to carry out emergency works and a condition survey of Coade Stone elements of the Rutland Memorial Fountain, in Merrion Square.
Cbs.ltd have now successfully completed a second phase of conservation and repair works to both budget and programme.
The Rutland Fountain was erected in memory of the Duke of Rutland, the Lord Lieutenant, who died of Dublin fever in 1787 at the age of 33. Recent research has confirmed it as the work of Francis Sandys and constructed by Arthur Darley, one of the stonemasons from the Dublin Customs House. The works were carried out under the direction of the Paving Board in1792.
An illustration by Baralett, engraved by Stadler from the National Gallery collection has been of considerable help in assessing the fountains original form when it functioned as a supply of water to the poor of Dublin City. Restoration works were carried out to the Fountain in 1975 during European Architectural Heritage Year; these included a number of modifications to the fountain and its layout which included rather sadly the replacement of the water supply with Iron railings!
A new phase of repair works to the structure have recently been completed. Whilst these works were not extensive they included repairs and re-pointing of stonework
Coade stone is a ceramic material often described as an artificial stone. It was first created by Mrs Eleanor Coade and sold commercially from 1769 to 1833. The building boom in London at this time led to a high demand for ornate features to decorate and adorn brick built Georgian houses. The showrooms of Mrs Coade's Artificial Stone Company, in Westminster Bridge Road, provided a huge array of 'off the shelf' solutions for builders and architects, ranging from small keystones for over front doors to corner and window features and almost entire facades. Coade Stone varied in colour from a light grey to a warm buff and its surface is best described as having a matte finish. The ease with which the product could be moulded to complex shapes made it ideal for large statues, sculptures and features. One of the more striking features of Coade is its incredible weathering resistance, which has proved better than most stone in the harsh city environment.
Total Value: €25K
Position: Principal Contractor
Client: Dublin City Council
Architect: Gerrard Bowe DCC
St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland.
- Research and design; specification and schedule of work
- Dismantle, rebuild and clean solid stone roofs
- Remove paint and clean internal decorative stone and mortar repair
- External lime render and internal lime plaster to vaulted ceilings
- New stencilled and gilded decorative finishes to walls and ceilings to match existing
- Dismantle, relocate and rebuild marble altar
- Clean oil on canvass wall paintings and applied decoration
- Remove varnish, clean, repair and finish marble and alabaster High Altar, rerodos and sculpture
Total Value: Circa €1.4M
Position: Principal contractor and nominated specialist sub- contractor
Client: St. Patricks College.
Architect: Richard Hurley and Associates
St Govan's Chapel, Bosherston, Pembs. [back to top]
- Repairs to plaster of vaulted ceiling
- Position: Specialist Contractor
- Client: PCNPA
Flimston Farmhouse, Castlemartin, Pembs. [back to top]
- Replacement of lintels, weatherproofing and repointing to walls
- Repairs to stonework, structural works
Total Value: £24K
Position: Specialist Contractor
Client: Landmarc
Architect: PCNPA
The Cross, Oswestry, Shropshire. [back to top]
- Dismantle, Relocation, Conservation and repair C19th stone drinking fountain
Total Value : £30K
Position: Specialist Contractor
Client: Oswestry Town Council
Architect: Chris Hardaker Architects
St Mary's, Tremadog, Gwynedd. [back to top]
- Coade Stone Lych Gate
- Cleaning, conservation and decorative repairs to Coade stone lych gate
- Dismantling, rebuilding and structural repair of north pillar
Total Value: £140K
Position: Specialist Contractor
Client: Cyfellion Cadw Tremadog
Architect: Arrol and Snell Associates
St Mary's, Shrewsbury, Shropshire. [back to top]
C18th wall memorials
Cleaning and repairs to alabaster, marble and stone wall mounted memorials.
Position: Specialist Contractor
Client: Churches Conservation Trust
Architect: Rodney Melville Associates
Highmeadow Farm, Coleford, Glos. [back to top]
Grade II* Medieval Gate House
Phase I Consultancy, Schedule of work, investigative and enabling works.
Phase II Major Structural repairs to walls, floors and roof including oak framing, pointing, repair of stone mullioned window
Total Value: £200K
Position: Specialist Contractor
Client: Hartog Hutton Developments
Architect: Head Project
Wollerton Animal Pound, Wollerton. [back to top]
- C18th brick animal pound
- Rebuilding of circular hand made brick walls after partial demolition
Total Value: £10K
Position: Specialist Contractor
Client: Hodnet Parish Council
Architect: Tim Ratcliffe Associates
Sker House, Porthcawl. [back to top]
- Grade I Elizabethan Fortified House
- Post contract snagging works, masonry, joinery, lime plaster
Total Value: £15K
Position: Specialist Contractor
Client: Buildings at Risk Trust
Architect: Michael Davies
Old Market Hall, Shrewsbury. [back to top]
- Grade II*
Conservation of inscribed stone, stone replacement, restoration of stone and polychrome armorial decoration and gilding
Total Value: £10K
Position: Specialist Sub-contractor
Client: Linford - Bridgeman
Architect: Arroll & Snell Ltd
Clement Memorial, Quarry Park, Shrewsbury. [back to top]
- Restoration of Stone and Polychrome Armorial Decoration
- Position: Specialist Contractor
- Client: Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council
- Architect: Mickey King
Chapel of St Thomas, King Williams College, Isle of Man [back to top]
- Specification, consolidate and mortar repair decayed sandstone entrance arch
Value: £10K
Position: Specialist Contractor
Client: King Williams College
Emo Court, Co. Laoise, Ireland. [back to top]
- 18thC. Mansion House and cast sculpture
- Conservation and repair of 19thC Sculpture
- Repair to timber roof structure, new lead roof to rear Portico
- consolidate existing lath and plaster ceiling and patch repair
Total Value: €28K
Position: Specialist Contractor
Client: Office of Public Works.
Architect: John Cahill
Wheatsheaf Inn, Shrewsbury . [back to top]
- Lime Render to timber frame
Total Value: £16K
Position: Specialist Contractor
Client: Union Pub Company
St Pauls Church, Bedford. [back to top]
- Conservation report, medieval sculpture
- Position: Specialist Contractor
- Client: Dorothy Porter Trust
- Architect: Michael Dales Partnership
Medieval Vaulted Building, Pembroke [back to top]
- Repair of oak door frame, new oak doors and windows
Position: Specialist Contractor
Client: Private
St. Patrick’s College Chapel, Maynooth, Ireland. Phase I & II [back to top]
- Design and specification
Repair, conservation and restoration of heavy and decorative stone masonry.
External lime render and 3 coat lime plaster to vaulted ceilings.
Create new stencilled and gilded decorative finishes to match existing, clean internal and external masonry facades. Dismantle, clean, relocate and rebuild marble altar
Total Value: €336K
Position: Principal Contractor
Client: St. Patrick’s College
Architect: Richard Hurley and Associates
Almshouses, Neath [back to top]
New replacement stone mullions, carved corbels, lime pointing
Value: £16K
Position: Specialist Sub-contractor
Client: Main Contractor Turner Construction
Architect: Alwyn Jones
Much Wenlock Abbey, Shropshire [back to top]
- Grade I Medieval Priory
Patch repair lime plaster
Position: Specialist Contractor
Client: Private
Architect: Arroll and Snell
Tibradden House, Co. Dublin, Ireland [back to top]
- 19thC Country House
Internal Lime Plaster
Position: Specialist Contractor
Client: Salina Guinness
51/52 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin, Ireland [back to top]
- 18thC Town House
- Office of Public Works head quarters
- Tuck pointing of brick façade, lime render, mortar repair
Total Value: £65K
Position: Specialist Contractor
Client: Office of Public Works
Architect: OPW John Cahill
Manor Farm, Cranage, Cheshire [back to top]
- 17thC former manor House
- New wattle, daub & lime plaster inset panels to match original
Value: £10K
Position: Specialist Contractor
Client: WPI Homes
Weymouth St, London [back to top]
- Roof garden perimeter fence to Georgian town house
Dublin City Wall, Corn Market, Dublin, Ireland [back to top]
- Medieval City Wall
Stone repair/ replacement, re-pointing, lime render
Total Value: £26K
Position: Principal Contractor
Client: Dublin Corporation
Dinton Hall, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire [back to top]
- Grade II* 16thC Country House
Brick replacement, re-pointing
Total Value: £8K
Position: Specialist Sub Contractor
Client: Richard Van Bergen