Conservation & Heritage Issue 52 Summer/Autumn 2026 - Flipbook - Page 52
The Importance of Using
the Correct Specialist
When Working on
Cathedr als, Churches and
Historic Buildings
Fifteen years of fundraising and urgent repairs reduced to a headline: “Village church
tower an ‘abomination’ after stone bleached white,” reported The Times. Other newspapers
and online news sites followed suit, with comments from villagers and those from further
afield jumping in to criticise the lime render applied to a historic Grade I Listed church in
the Yorkshire Dales.
“The media attention was certainly not something we
anticipated,” shared MaryRose Kearney, Chair of the Tower
Committee at St Oswald’s church in Askrigg. “Many people
looked at published photographs without any understanding
of the condition of the masonry, the history of the building
or the conservation reasoning behind the work.”
village landmark, which dates back to the 15th century,
but also increased visitor footfall and is now helping other
professionals learn about the importance of conserving
historic buildings and using the right materials.
“The tower had suffered from persistent water ingress for
many years – the consequences were not merely cosmetic.
Internally, moisture was affecting the fabric of the building
and creating concerns about the long-term condition of the
masonry,” says MaryRose.
The church was able to quickly respond to the headlines,
because they had worked with a team of specialists
throughout the project, and were able to explain why they
had done what they did and how this would safeguard the
building for the future.
“The back of the church flooded in extreme weather. The
bell ringers’ chamber was black with mould and green with
algae. The church smelt damp and musty and was difficult
to heat.
Let us tell you more about this brilliant project and why
working with specialists not only enabled repairs at this
© Donald Insall Architects
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Conservation & Heritage Journal
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