76 Bridge Road Hampton Court Surrey KT8 9HD BRIEF REPORT ON BACKGROUND HISTORY SUMMARY OF FINDINGS TO DATE

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "76 Bridge Road Hampton Court Surrey KT8 9HD BRIEF REPORT ON BACKGROUND HISTORY SUMMARY OF FINDINGS TO DATE"

Barnard Williamson
5 years ago
Views:

1 76 Bridge Road Hampton Court Surrey KT8 9HD BRIEF REPORT ON BACKGROUND HISTORY & SUMMARY OF FINDINGS TO DATE Surbiton Clock Tower Claremont Road, Surbiton, Surrey For ENGLISH HERITAGE March

2 C O N T E N T S 1. INTRODUCTION AND HISTORY 2. SUMMARY OF RESTORATION PROGRESS 3. CONSULTANTS EVALUATION 4. HEALTH AND SAFETY ADDENDUMS Specialists Report (Conservation & Structural) Condition Photographs Maps, Press Cuttings(Historical Information ), Listed Building Consents Specification of the Works (as tendered) 2

3 1 INTRODUCTION AND HISTORY (see addendum folders) The Surbiton Clock Tower is a Grade II listed building constructed with stone facing and ornamentation in a gothic style and completed around It is just over 18 metres (60 feet exactly) in height to the spire with working clock facing to all compass points and commemorative plaque to Edward III located within niches at low level. The decision to build a commemorative public clock tower was made shortly after the death of Queen Victoria and prior to the coronation of the forthcoming new monarch King Edward VII in A competition was evolved and administrated by the then Chief Medical Officer to the area at inviting submission of designs from architects to provide a suitable commemorative clock tower close at the centre of Surbiton. From a final total of 116 different designs and after what must have been a considerable amount of deliberation by the then Surbiton Council, a design by John Johnson was finally nominated for acceptance. Around the same time the present site was donated by the Council. The construction commenced in 1904 and completed in The central square core of the tower comprises of semi engineering bricks which are dressed, clad and ornamented with Bath stone in a distinctive late Victorian ecclesiastical gothic style. The construction originally included four white stone corner statues removed around 1965, and decorative iron railings (see 1910 photo); these are believed to have been removed in the 1930 s, present location unknown. Internally, there is a timber staircase leading to the clock mechanism platform and spire. The tower is orientated exactly to all points of the compass with the clock faces to each elevation operated mechanically. In the last few decades an electrical drive mechanism has been installed. The mechanism, clock faces and resetting are maintained by local popular demand. In 1907 work on the tower stopped briefly as the construction fund ran low. With the aid of local resident contributions a sum of 213 was raised allowing completion in The tower s future was again secured in the early 1960 s when demolition in preference to repair was given the go ahead. A contributing sum of 328 was raised ensuring the tower s continuity. In 1983 the building was given a Grade II listing. The architect, John Johnson, is responsible for a very similar clock tower in Gravesend, Gravesham, Kent built in 1891 but with a plaque to Edward VII added in 1912, and another in North Street, Brighton dating from It is possible he is responsible for several other clock towers of a similar design around England. This architect designed many churches and public buildings around London, the south east and other parts of England in the second half of the nineteenth century, including Alexandra Palace. The hurricane of 1987 is believed to have caused the spire to momentarily dislodge along its base. This fracture is still visible and is agreed to indicate the effect of substantial wind forces from the south westerly direction. 3

4 During the erection of scaffolding in April 2006 to renovate the clock faces it was discovered that the external stone ornamentations were in a deteriorated and fragile state. Some ornamentation had already detached from the structure and left the tower s stonework providing a potential hazard to the general public below at street level. 4

5 Further stages of scaffolding were then authorised by the Royal Borough of Kingston to allow close examination of all parts of the building and to further protect the public from possible falling ornamentation. A specialist stone consultant was commissioned to provide a conclusive examination and report relating to the entire building. An independent structural engineer was also employed to examine the entire structure and in particular the area below the spire section. The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames Planning Department was informed of the need to carry out essential works for which formal approval has been obtained 5

6 2 SUMMARY OF RESTORATION PROGRESS Following safety scaffolding and netting being erected around the entire structure, Cliveden Conservation Ltd (stone conservation specialist) were appointed through NPS Property Consultants Ltd on behalf of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. Their brief was to provide a detailed appraisal of the tower s condition and estimate restoration costs (refer to addendum report). CPG Structural Engineering Consultants were also have provided a report upon the clock tower in general with a specific focus upon Cliveden Conservation s concern with the wind fracture to the south west elevation below the spire. An independent Health and Safety Consultant employed by the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames has strongly advised that the scaffolding remain in place as it is considered that the tower constitutes a public hazard if left unprotected. The clock faces and hands (four number) have now been restored by Public locks Ltd (Slough) and are kept in safe storage until restoration works are fully completed. 6

7 3 CONSULTANTS EVALUATION The structural engineers have confirmed that the tower structurally, is in good condition. The brick core of the tower is reported as being remarkable for exhibiting no visible fault or fracture internally, even after a century. The foundations are reported as still being sound. The reported south west spire base fracture is confirmed as being visible, although the spire and tower core remain continuous, vertical and intact. It is apparent that at some point in time, extreme high winds from the south west may have bent or stressed the tower over to one side, although the upper sheared section would have returned to its correct location as seen today. Cliveden Conservation Ltd report, as expected, provides the substance of the proposed remedial works. The report is technical and accurate with satisfactory content and descriptions as would be expected from a conservation specialist. Laboratory analysis reports are included as an addendum. The report incorporates a detailed repair method statement and schedule of works. A total of 173 different stone repairs were identified. For an approximate guidance figure, the cost of each renovation repair averages at just under The causes of the tower s defective stonework condition are analysed as follows: Ingress of water into and around the iron cramp fixings which attach the ornamentation to the main structure. The water over the years has eroded the fixings to the point where they are at worst non existent or reduced in section whereby the inherent weight of the attached stone ornament may further tear the fixing. The erosion and expansion of the iron cramps and dowels would again allow further greater entrainment of water to effect even more corrosion and enhance fracturing of the stone ornamentation. The water ingress would also be enhanced through wind pressure. Effect of time, natural weathering and thermal movement over the last century to the exterior stonework. Exacerbation of the natural erosion of the stone by previous cleaning carried out in past decades. The report provides in detail an exact bespoke method of repair for each defective stone ornament and component. Ornamentation with deteriorated fixings would be removed and refixed with new stainless steel dowels. Deteriorated stone carvings would be authentically reformed and modelled. Finally, a recommended scientifically approached final soft water based cleaning and protective coating application to the exterior is recommended for long term environmental protection. The mortar has been analysed to contain as expected a high proportion of chalk mixed with lime and a small amount of fine sand aggregate. This mix is understood to be fairly typical for a building of this type in the early 1900 s. The mortar colours have been analysed in order to assist with precise matching during eventual restoration. The report also indicates that the iron weather vane fixings would require the specialist blacksmith s services. This item of cost is not included within the overall stone restoration cost estimates. 7

8 4 HEALTH & SAFETY It has been agreed by all parties that scaffolding must remain in place in the prime interest of general public safety, pending completion of repairs and renovation if no alternative substantial funding can be found. 8

9 A D D E N D U M Specialists Report (Conservation & Structural) Condition Photographs Maps, Press Cuttings(Historical Information ), Listed Building Consents Specification of the Works (as tendered 9

St Hugh s Charterhouse

St Hugh s Charterhouse Cross (wheeled head or Celtic) 26.3m from parapet Figure 1 1 Below top 4.1m at the 7m, 12m, 17.2m 20m, and 24m levels corbel or ring stone work is formed in a decorative fashion,