Issue 46 April 25 web - Flipbook - Page 85
The team sourced and selected replacement Pennant
sandstone and in line with the Cathedral’s conservation
ethos, much of the lifted stone was then repurposed and
recycled, benefitting other local churches and organisations. We visited Barnhill quarry to inspect and select the
new Forest of Dean Pennant sandstone, ensuring that it
fulfilled the brief, selecting a range of ‘hues’ to reflect the
colour palette of the original stones.
Cox Architects, and their archaeologist. Initial recording
and ongoing monitoring together with maintaining a keen
eye on the details were required to repair and reinstate
the floor and re-integrate the marble memorial tablets.
The sandstone was sawn to size off-site following
templating of the individual elements. Further site cutting
and trimming were undertaken to follow the complexities
of the floor. A new subbase of compacted coarse aggregate
was laid with the slabs, then bedded and pointed with a
lime-bound mortar.
Visitors and the local community were invited by the
Cathedral to witness the ongoing conservation of the
historic floor.
As part of the project, Bristol Cathedral organised a
‘Conservation in Action’ day. This offered a unique
insight for the public to visit the project site, view our
ongoing work to restore the floor in the Seafarers’ Chapel,
and engage with the restoration process.
During the event, we provided behind-the-scenes tours,
providing a rare opportunity for visitors to see the ongoing
restoration work and interact with our conservators and
stonemasons. Under our guidance, visitors also had the
chance to try their hand at stone carving, making this a
truly interactive experience.
The newly restored chapel is now welcoming visitors.
These works benefitted from the collaborative approach
of the project team, involving a close working relationship
with the client representatives from the Cathedral, Nick
Above, Lifting the floor and marble memorial slabs
Below, Measuring and templating for new stone
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