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Survey of 20th Century Brickwork and Exemplar Repairs

RAF Bicester, Oxfordshire

RAF Bicester is one of the key sites identified by English Heritage's thematic listing survey of military airfields. The largely intact survival at RAF Bicester of the brick domestic buildings, principally barracks and related buildings of the 1927-1939 period, is unusual. Management guidelines were prepared for the site by English Heritage, Cherwell District Council and the Defence Clothing and Textile Agency; these are intended to become a model which can be adapted for other airfield sites. Ingram Consultancy was commissioned to carry out a mortar survey and investigation and exemplar repair works, which contributed to these management guidelines.

• Investigation and analysis of mortars used in the brickwork. The buildings were surveyed to establish mortar and brick types and recorded using photography. The mortars were analysed by acid disaggregation. In general the "theme" is of a cream coloured bedding mortar based (so far as ascertained) on hydraulic lime and a grey-black pointing mortar based on hydraulic lime and ash or cement:lime and ash.
  
  
• Exemplar works for repointing and replacement of brickwork. Examples of piecing in new brickwork and repointing were carried out by Master Mason Colin Burns to set a standard for future work on site. This included removal of previous poor quality brick replacement in hard cement-based mortar. The working process of repointing and replacement was photographed to provide a record for the final report.
  
  
• Sourcing suitable mortar materials and bricks for the repair work.
  
  
• The report included the photographic survey of the buildings, details of brick and mortar types and of the brick bonds used. The survival of camouflage paint on brickwork was also recorded. Step-by-step photographs of the brick replacement and repointing processes provided a visual record to assist future repair and maintenance of the buildings at RAF Bicester and other airfield sites.

  Client:Government Historic Buildings Advisory Unit, English Heritage

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