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Condition Survey and Specification for Historic Brickwork

17th Century Terraced Garden Walls, Waterlow Park, Highgate, London

The grade II listed garden walls of Waterlow Park were built as part of the formal terraced gardens to Lauderdale House in Highgate. Long covered in vegetation, the walls are to be repaired and conserved in a scheme to reinstate the formal gardens, planned by the London Borough of Camden and supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Ingram Consultancy provided technical advice on the repair and conservation of the garden walls, feeding into planning and management of the project.

Site work included Survey of the walls, production of a Schedule of Defects and detailed, marked up elevation drawings cross referenced to the schedule of defects. Detailed specifications for repair and conservation methods and materials were produced, including local re-building. Recommendations include measures to improve presentation, reduce water penetration into the walls and reinstate missing elements, such as wall cappings, as originally designed. Tarmac pavements adjacent to walls were recommended to be removed and compacted gravel surfaces reinstated.

Site investigation suggested that, although the walls have been breached and modified, the overriding character of the brickwork was seventeenth century. The early character of the brickwork was apparent in the brick dimensions and colours, and in its random bonding. It was a modified English bond in appearance, but not, as collapsed sections show, in execution, since many of the headers are snapped. Part of the survey work was recording of details, such as the wall cappings and moulded plinth bricks. Preliminary investigation extended to the condition of sculpture pieces on the site, including the "Eagle" discovered in undergrowth and two figures attributed to John van Nost, with remnants of paint residues. Archaeology and recording of such features will be an essential part of the conservation and repair process.

Client: Parks and Open Spaces, London Borough of Camden

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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