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Conservation Planning with Specifications for Remedial Work

Guildford Castle Tower Keep, Surrey

The tower keep of Guildford Castle dating to ca.1170-1180 sits on the motte of the earlier Norman fortification. Abandoned and roofless since the 17th century the keep has been repaired at intervals since 1830. The massive rubble construction is composed of chalk, flint, Reigate and Bargate stones with Bargate stone dressings. The dressed stone of the buttresses and openings is local Bargate, a calcareous sandstone, that is particularly susceptible to decay. The masonry in general suffers from extensive moisture penetration.

Guildford Borough Council manages the site and plans, in consultation with English Heritage, to commence a programme of conservation work appropriate to the keep's status as a scheduled ancient monument. The Council commissioned Ingram Consultancy to carry out a survey of the keep masonry and to produce a prioritised plan for its conservation, with detailed specifications for remedial work, sufficient to include within a tender document.

• Investigation of twelfth century tower keep and other outlying elements of the castle to establish their full historic significance
  
  
• Identification of constructional features and materials
  
  
• Condition survey with prioritised recommendations on repair and consolidation, including the conservation of decorative stone and plaster in the chapel built into the southwest corner of the castle
  
  
• Recommendations on legibility and enhancement of the site for increasing visitor numbers
  
  
• Preparation of a preliminary Schedule of Work
  
  
• Preparation of a Budget Cost Plan for the work
  
  
• Preparation of Application for Scheduled Ancient Monument Consent

  Client: Guildford Borough Council

Ingram Consultancy Limited
Tel: +44 (0) 1747 820 170 - Fax: +44 (0) 1747 820 175
e-mail: enquiries@ingram-consultancy.co.uk

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