Museums

Presentation summary

David introduced the project to conserve the cross and the practical work involved involved. This included a timeline of previous conservation highlighting that the monument had been seen as a landmark to be cared for over many years. The earliest known conservation took place in 1713 and the latest in 1984. He discussed analysis of stone types and wear patterns and highlighted unstable pieces of stone which had to be removed. The challenges of removing this stone exposed old repairs. These included structural damage due to corrosion of old internal metalwork supports. Through scientific analysis his team worked out the required material for sympathetic repairs including lime mortar mixes. As part of the process new stone repairs were commissioned which involved identifying similar stone that had aged sympathetically.  He highlighted that the monument had been repaired extensively in the past and stone analysis showed this also included the external steps. He concluded by highlighting the importance of balancing conservation and preservation.

Speaker biography

Dr David Carrington is a conservator specialising in architectural stone and sculpture. He founded in 1997 and heads Skillington Workshop Ltd, a specialist conservation firm based in Grantham, who carried out the recent conservation works. David obtained his doctorate from York University with research into the impact previous restoration works to church monuments. He acts as Conservation Cases Recorder for the Church Monuments Society, serves on the Fabric Committee for Durham Cathedral and is conservation advisor to Lincoln and Southwell Cathedrals. An accredited conservator and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, he is a keen advocate of 'sustainable conservation'.

Practical conservation and the actual works carried out on the cross powerpoint