Conservation & Heritage Issue 52 Summer/Autumn 2026 - Flipbook - Page 37
This understanding is fundamental in shaping proposals
that respect both the building’s heritage and its role within
the community.
The programme of works included re-roofing, repairs to
stonework, replacement of the floor around retained mosaic
elements, installation of underfloor heating, and secondary
glazing to every stained-glass window. Together, these works
have enhanced the cathedral’s environmental performance
while safeguarding its historic fabric for future generations.
This same approach extends to the building itself. One of
the greatest challenges in conservation architecture is the
unknown: historic buildings don’t reveal all their secrets
from the outset. Developing a detailed understanding of the
historic fabric, therefore, requires extensive investigation
and close inspection of every part of the cathedral, from the
very top of the spire down to the nave below. For the Purcell
team, this even involved abseiling from the spire to assess
the condition of the masonry. Understanding the building
from top to bottom, elevation by elevation, was essential to
making informed conservation decisions.
Sustainability interventions
The restoration of Salford Cathedral represents one of the
most ambitious Roman Catholic cathedral conservation
projects in Britain.
Driven by the Diocese’s ambition to create the UK’s ‘most
sustainable cathedral’, and a commitment to achieve net zero
by 2038, the Cathedral has undergone carefully specified
building improvements, not only to restore the fabric but to
make it more energy efficient.
Investigations revealed the extent of the challenges facing
the building. Years of water ingress through failing roof
coverings, defective flashings, and inadequate rainwater
drainage had caused widespread deterioration to masonry,
plaster, and decorative finishes.
Sustainable construction principles shaped material
choices, traditional craftsmanship and methods of delivery
throughout the project. A new timber-framed extension,
constructed using responsibly sourced timber, reduced the
need for concrete and minimised the use of heavy plant
on site. Improvements to the cathedral’s rainwater systems,
including new drainage outlets, overflow protection and
maintenance access, have resolved longstanding issues of
water ingress, while an integrated rainwater recycling system
captures, stores and reuses rainfall throughout the cathedral.
A holistic approach
Unlike many cathedral conservation projects where
interventions are delivered incrementally over time, the
restoration of Salford Cathedral considered the building
as a whole. This comprehensive approach allowed repairs,
environmental improvements, and accessibility measures to
be developed together, ensuring each intervention supported
the next.
Photography © Alex J. Wright
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