CHALLENGE

Given the high heritage value of the island base, ongoing maintenance and proactive preservation are essential. Several structures had fallen into a state of disrepair (sandstone being particularly susceptible to salt erosion) and our scope of works was to repair and make good to ensure their longevity.

SOLUTION

PCB integrated the project and our staff into the islands everyday functions without impact to base operations, quickly achieved by our staff and their familiarity with the island and its personnel. Partnering with Polaris (our barge provider), planned approaches to the island, points to unload and the weight limitations/accessibility of each area were devised. Drop off and collection of waste bins was scheduled to ensure all waste was promptly removed and to reduce our carbon footprint. Materials and equipment were delivered as needed to optimise efficiency, while sourcing of original (or closely matching) fittings and fixtures from specialist suppliers was overseen by our appointed Heritage Consultant before repairs commenced.

Replacement of sandstone blocks immediately below slate roofing required the removal of courses of slate whilst ensuring the building remained protected internally from the elements. Reshaping and reuse of removed sandstone was implemented where possible, to replace sandstone blocks showing signs of erosion and all blocks replaced were individually etched and marked to allow for identification in future works. A steel lifting frame was devised and fabricated to enable the safe and timely installation of Sandstone Lintels from the exterior of the buildings, without relocating the artefacts housed within.

PCB’s sandstone works far exceeded the quality of previous restorations carried out over the years, correcting errors in the re-pointing of stones and mortar mixes which accelerate salt erosion. Previous repairs also showed poorly matching stone colours so our appointed Stonemason and Heritage Consultant personally selected all stones for the island. Particular attention was paid to the stone shade and grain, and to match the surface ‘pick mark’ finish. The entire face of each machine-cut stone was made rough using a ball hammer, followed by pick marks across the roughened surface. Whilst time consuming and labour intensive, the stone installation blends seamlessly with the original stone work to enhance the heritage values and aesthetics of the building. Replaced timber was marked by the tradesman with his initials and the date. This being a practice encouraged by Heritage Organisations as it provides for the identification of the item, and enables the story of the development of the building over the years, to be accessible to generations to come.