Conservation & Heritage Issue 52 Summer/Autumn 2026 - Flipbook - Page 60
Summer Inspection, Winter
Protection: Caring for
Outdoor Statuary and
Decor ative Stonework
Fiona Johnson, Senior Conservator at Cliveden Conservation, talks about the impact of
winter damage on outdoor garden statuary and ornaments
Summer brings visitors back to gardens and historic
landscapes, where statuary, fountains and ornamental
stonework are once again on full display. Yet closer inspection
often reveals the legacy of the preceding winter with visual
cracks, eroded decorative details or damage to figurative
statues.
freeze-thaw cycles, and temperature fluctuations can cause
significant damage and intensify inherent weaknesses.
The primary threat is water infiltration. When moisture
penetrates even the smallest fissures, the repeated freezethaw cycle throughout autumn and winter exerts tremendous
pressure on weakened stone. This process, occurring dozens
of times each season, gradually forces cracks to widen and
deepen, eventually leading to structural failure of finer
decorative details. As conservators, it is not uncommon to
All outdoor statuary - from classical marble sculpture
to terracotta and even cast concrete - faces the greatest
challenges during the winter months. While these pieces
may appear robust, the combination of moisture penetration,
Below, The historic fountain at Waddesdon Manor, owned by the National Trust,
is protected by Cliveden Conservation Winter Covers. Image @ Waddesdon Manor
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