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Preservation and Interpretation of Archaeological Sites

Rushen Abbey, Isle of Man

Rushen Abbey on the Isle of Man was founded in the 12th century by monks from Furness Abbey in Cumbria through a bequest of land from the Manx King Olaf I. The barrel vaulted Chapter House is the only claustral building to survive; nothing remains above ground of the abbey church, except the tower which was added at a later date. However, substantial sections of the perimeter wall and non-claustral buildings near the Silverburn River survive. The latter have been interpreted as the infirmary, the infirmarer's lodging and the abbot's lodging.

Conservation of the ruined masonry buildings of the abbey was carried out in parallel with ongoing archaeological investigation, all work commissioned by Manx National Heritage in developing the site into an interpretation and visitor centre. Ingram Consultancy prepared a masonry conservation plan, recorded standing masonry remains and provided on-site training. This work entailed analysis of the structures and development of structural repair techniques, principally for the splitting and opening barrel vault of the chapter house and for the consolidation and preservation of low wall remains.

Recording

Manx National Heritage provided rectified photographs of all elevations from which Ingram Consultancy produced scaled drawings of elevations, key sections and building details.

Conservation and Presentation

The surviving masonry is built mainly of two faces of large stones, shallow bedded and pinned and wedged in place with smaller stones, with a mortared core between. This type of masonry employs a very hard and durable local Carboniferous limestone. In contrast, the chapter house is built of a variety of smaller stones brought to rough courses, with the barrel vault formed in flat stones, wedged and pinned.

Ingram Consultancy worked on site with the project contractor and Ashley Pettit architect, as well as Manx National Heritage, to conserve the Chapter House vault and the low wall remains. Methods were adapted to conserve the surviving low walls and to maintain wall lines in sections where the face or core work was missing.

Client: Manx National Heritage

Ingram Consultancy Limited
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