Issue 47 JUNE - Flipbook - Page 78
The project is being led by Rosie Fraser Heritage
Consultancy, with Thomas Ford & Partners Architects,
Greenwood Projects, and experienced conservation
contractors ASBC (Alan Staley Building Contractors).
Stained glass conservation is being managed by Ark
Stained Glass, specialists in the restoration of stained and
leaded glass.
solar panels will be installed on the south-facing roof,
helping to secure a more sustainable future for St Mary’s.
Inside, the current reordering will make the church more
accessible and adaptable for 21st-century use. A new
acoustically separate room will be constructed in
the north-west corner to host community activities,
exhibitions, and workshops. This space will be named in
honour of Thomas Magnus, a 16th-century diplomat and
benefactor of both the church and town. Meanwhile, the
south-west corner will be transformed into a café with
seating and accessible toilets.
The conservation works address long-term weather
damage, focusing on both masonry and stained glass.
Most masonry repairs are high-level and involve replacing
critical elements such as coping stones, hood moulds, and
string courses—features designed to protect underlying
stone by directing rainwater away from the building. Many
of these stones have eroded beyond function and are
either being replaced or re-bedded for safety.
These changes have required minor modifications to the
pews designed by Gilbert Scott. Where necessary, pews
have been carefully halved—the decorative poppyhead
ends removed and reattached in new positions. In some
cases, the wood has been intricately cut to fit around the
Medieval stone columns. Disused wood is being donated
to a local college, where furniture-making students will
repurpose it into new items for the church’s children’s
area.
Some of the damage is the result of earlier repair methods.
In the 19th century, iron dog cramps were used to secure
stones. These have since corroded and expanded, causing
cracking in the surrounding stone. They are now being
replaced with stainless steel cramps to prevent further
deterioration. Similarly, 20th-century cement pointing—
far harder than the original stone—has trapped moisture,
leading to freeze-thaw damage and spalling. Today’s
repairs use traditional materials that closely replicate those
used by Medieval stonemasons, allowing the building to
breathe naturally, and slowing down further deterioration.
Funding from the Church of England will support an
extension of the central platform, creating a more flexible
space for worship and performances.
The project also includes the installation of new
interpretive panels to showcase the church’s rich history
and architecture, opening up the site to many new
visitors.
The church’s failing lead roof will be replaced with
Terne-coated steel—a lighter, more cost-effective material
that will be mostly concealed from view. Additionally, 40
Below, replacement hood moulds
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