STONE FLOOR REPAIRS AND CONSERVATION AND REPAIR OF THE MARBLE MEMORIAL TABLETS.
Project Overview
The project sought to address the floor of the Seafarers’ Chapel, Bristol Cathedral, which was heavily worn and weathered, to arrest its deterioration, improve its safety, and enhance accessibility for visitors and the cathedral congregation.
The Seafarers’ Chapel holds a variety of wall monuments and ledger stones paving the floor. Nick Cox Architects appointed Cliveden Conservation to undertake the major phase of stone repairs to the floor, together with the conservation and repair of the marble memorial tablets.
Conservation Treatment
The aim was to retain the historic layout of the floor, keeping the larger ledger slabs in situ whilst lifting and replacing the decayed and worn Pennant sandstone.
During the dismantling phase, an archaeological watching brief was maintained. The lifting revealed several subterranean burial vaults which were previously unrecorded. The opportunity afforded by lifting of the floor, also allowed for the burial of acoustic and audio cabling, increasing accessibility for those with hearing challenges.
In addition, marble memorial slabs were lifted and repaired and a new stone ramp created to the east end into the Lady Chapel. New steel and oak ramps were fabricated to reduce stepped access from the North Choir aisle and into the Choir. These ramps will be installed as part of the project.
Replacement stone was sourced by the team, with quarry visits made to inspect and select the new Forest of Dean Pennant sandstone. The sandstone was sawn to size off site following templating of the individual elements.
Further site cutting and trimming was undertaken to follow the complexities of the floor. A new surbase of compacted coarse aggregate was laid with the slabs then bedded and pointed with a lime bound mortar.
Results
Painstaking care and attention to detail was required to repair and reinstate the floor, re-integrating the marble memorial tablets within the 14th-century chapel. Cliveden Conservation successfully carried out every aspect of the project, in close collaboration with Nick Cox Architects, Bristol Cathedral, and their archaeologist.
Members of the conservation team were also actively involved in the cathedral’s ‘Conservation in Action Day’, providing behind-the-scenes tours and stone carving activities.
The Seafarers’ Chapel floor has been restored and now features improved accessibility.
Project details
Client:
Bristol Cathedral and Nick Cox Architects
Specialist Contractor:
Cliveden Conservation
Category:
Stonework
What we did
Quarry visits made to inspect and select the new Forest of Dean Pennant sandstone.
Lifting the deteriorated stone whilst maintaining an archaeological watching brief.
Measuring and templating for new stone.
Lifting the floor and marble memorial slabs.
Laying out and ‘dry’ fitting new stones.
Removal of marble tablet from ledger stone.
The restored Seafarers’ Chapel, Bristol Cathedral.
“I have had the immense privilege of witnessing the conservation work in the Seafarers’ Chapel first hand. It’s exciting to know the newly laid stone will enhance safety and accessibility for all who worship at, visit, and experience the Cathedral, and at the same time, knowing we’ve done as much as possible to preserve and repair our historic floor monuments.”
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Christopher Jones, Bristol Cathedral’s Clerk of Works