Westminster Abbey Chapter House
A structure 'perfect in itself, of a purely English type'.
Stow and Beale Conservation Architects are directing a major conservation project at Westminster Abbey Chapter House for clients English Heritage. The Chapter House, constructed 1250-1253, was used as a place of government and meetings: in medieval times as meeting place for the House of Commons and subsequently as a document archive. In 1859 George Gilbert Scott restored the roof and upper parts which had been in his words 'dreadfully mutliated'. He described the Chapter House as 'a structure perfect in itself, of a purely English type as to its plan and outline, and as carrying out the principle of window tracery in a fuller and grander degree than any part of the church.' Stow & Beale are conserving GG Scott's work, which in contrast to so much Victorian restoration, has benefitted the public face of the Abbey complex as well as preserving the fine interior.
Work includes external stonework repairs including fine carved detail, repairs to the window tracery and fixings, and works to the roof, including improved access. The project will be on site from 2008-2010.
Further information and project photos will be posted here from time to time.
Client: English Heritage
Architect: Stow and Beale Conservation Architects LLP: Barry Stow, Marcus Beale, Kate Sanders
Contractor: Nimbus Conservation Ltd
Project Manager: Thinc Projects
Structural Engineer: Hockley and Dawson Consulting Engineers
Quantity Surveyor: Press and Starkey
Services Consultants: Martin Thomas Associates
Architects (pre-construction phase): S T Walker & Duckham.
External Links:
English Heritage: Chapter House & Pyx Chamber: Visiting times: here
Guardian Newspaper: 'Westminster Abbey's Chapter House to receive £2m facelift' 12 Jan 2009 here
24hour Museum ' £2 Milllion Restoration for Westminster Abbey's Chapter House ' 13 Jan 2009 here
Westminster Abbey: News: 'Restoration of one of London's oldest buildings has begun' 12 Jan 2009 here
Chapter House exterior in 2008: before
Detail of monkey gargoyle bracket: before.
Scaffold from east, May 2009.