Museums

Presentation summary

Acanthus Clews were commissioned to assess the conservation requirements of the cross and come up with a conservation plan. The Cross is a complex monument and is important to the people of the town. Acanthus Clews inspection showed weathered eroded 1290s carvings, decaying 1980s mortar repairs, a missing canopy, corroded expanding iron cramps and other metalwork, expanding iron cramps. It also revealed the 1290s statue of the Queen was in good condition considering its age. The general assessment showed a patchwork of repairs and decay. Detailed plans were developed showing the conservation requirements of each elevation and area of the cross. Possible mortar sample pallets were created to ensure conservation was sympathetic to both the original monument and previous conservation. These were used by the consercators Skillingtons Workshop, to undertake the practical conservation.

Speaker biography

Henry Sanders was the conservation architect commissioned to work on the project. He has worked upon: Wrest Park, Audley End, Hampton Court Place, Palace of Westminster, Kensington Palace, Parliament of Trinidad amongst other projects.

The development of the project to conserve the Eleanor Cross powerpoint