The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings

SPAB
37 Spital Square
LONDON
E1 6DY

T: 020 7377 1644
F: 020 7247 5296
E: info@spab.org.uk

Charity No. 111 3753

Scottish Charity No. SC 039244

Company No.  5743962

VAT No. 577 4276 02

 

 

According to structural engineer Ted Ruddock BA MSc MAI MICE MBE:

 

Consolidation is essential, to retain as much as possible for as long as possible and for reasons of public safety, but by the least obtrusive means possible.

 

All the main masonry elements of the surviving structure are of sound construction and geometrically stable; only small parts, most of them affected by decay of lintels or other individual stones or features, exist as potential initiators of spreading breakdown of the integrity of the stonework.

 

The integrity of the masonry in those areas can be restored by methods and with materials which are in sympathy with the materials and elements of the surviving structure.

 

The future long life of the ruin can be best ensured by further actions which protect the surviving original materials of the structure from the agents of weathers, eg by filling the surface voids in the walls, capping the wallheads with turf, by rough racking or thorough pointing.

 

With proper access and supervision good masons would have no difficulty replacing the few weathered stones, stiffening the skin by packing and pointing with lime mortar and generally pointing with a carefully formulated lime mortar.

 

Taking down some limited areas of the skins and rebuilding may be found desirable, but such areas would be very few and small.