Pinnacles and Buttresses

Jun 14, 2013

Vaults, Pinnacles and Tile Repairs at Sherborne Abbey, Dorset.

We have just completed a complicated 6 month project at Sherborne Abbey, known locally as the Cathedral of Dorset. Hamstone, that most beautiful of limestones showed its usual weaknesses, as it contains thin beds of less well cemented material and some small clay inclusions. These areas weather differentially to give weathered hamstone its characteristic furrowed appearance, but have lead later Victorian pinnacles to come apart due to the additional burden of it being bedded incorrectly.

Internally there were interesting problems securing parts of the shifting Lierne vaulting of the N and S aisles due to the weight of the tower and inadequate footings, thankfully now all resolved. The removal of hundreds of years worth of soot to the ribs and limewashing the webs completed the works. A large part of the works involved the removal of modern emulsion paint and redecoration with a homemade limewash. As the walls had not been allowed to breathe for many decades it will take some time before the moisture stored in the yard thick walls reduces to an acceptable level and residual staining disappears.