Indeed many have worked alongside Professor John Ashurst in the physical development of the conservation techniques that we take for granted today. At sites such as Fountains Abbey and Rievaulx Abbey our long association of repair activity has become part of the ongoing historic record of the place.
There is unlikely to be another company who can demonstrate the number of personnel we have with twenty or thirty years’ ‘working on the monuments’.
Our awareness of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act, and frequency of working hand-in-hand with archaeologists, means we fully appreciate the complexity in planning and programming and the finer detail that result from working under Scheduled Monument Consent conditions.
Many of our projects include the consolidation and repair of walled ruins where our craftsmen are able to draw upon their wealth of experience to consolidate and repair without drastic visual intrusion.
Good repointing techniques take a considerable time to master, both in matching materials and also in achieving the final desired appearance, which must always take account of the natural weathering and ageing process.
We can also repair exposed corework in such a way that any voids and fissures in the wall are carefully grouted to preserve the integrity of the structure. Ongoing training enables us to undertake sensitive repairs to fragile stone using dentistry techniques utilising the best mix of traditional skills and modern technology.
Nowadays there is a greater awareness and understanding of the value of ecological and environmental matters. If required our sensitive repair and conservation techniques are able to respect this organic life leaving these structures looking less sterile, and thus remaining picturesque.
