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Conservation of Monuments and Remedial Work to Plaster and Brickwork

Nunhead Cemetery, London

Nunhead Cemetery contains a fine collection of mid to late 19th century monuments executed in a range of materials, including Portland limestone, granite, marble and terracotta. Repair and conservation work on the monuments and the cemetery chapel and boundary wall were in progress. Ingram Consultancy carried out a survey and gave technical advice on cleaning and treatment of selected monuments, as well as general recommendations on mortars for the conservation of the chapel and the boundary wall.

Part of the brief was analysis of paint layers on several Portland stone and one marble monument. Determining the nature of the paint residues was important to establish their significance. This information would also be a factor in the decision to clean the monuments and the selection of cleaning method. Catherine Hassall carried out analysis of the paint samples.

Mortar analysis was also required. Representative samples of mortar from the different monuments (Portland, granite, marble and terracotta) were analysed using basic acid disaggregation to identify and assist matching of aggregate types.

Surviving paint layers on the Portland limestone and marble monuments, which had altered to grey-black on the surface were found to be treatments of white or cream coloured lead based paint, thought to have been applied as part of a maintenance regime to keep the monuments looking clean. Retention of the paint residues was recommended for the limestone monuments. Removal was recommended for the marble monument since paint layers were contributing to saturation and decay of the figure sculpture panels.

Client: Stonewest Limited

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

registered in England & Wales No. 3800902