Internal Refurbishment of Guildford Cathedral

The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit is the last C of E Cathedral consecrated on a new site (in 1961) and one of three Church of England Cathedrals built in the 20th Century. It was built to a design by Sir Edward Maufe over a period of 30 years from the laying of the foundation stone in 1936 to the completion of the North Garth in 1966. The work to the Nave did not start until 1955.

The foundations and a large part of the superstructure were built using reinforced concrete with 778 pre-cast piles driven 6m. The exterior cladding used Lingfield engineering bricks which included the Tower and Nave piers. Ashlar stone was used to clad the Nave piers, arches and windows. To improve acoustics, asbestos reinforced acoustic plaster was used applied to the majority of the walls and ceilings. More than 50 years later the acoustic plaster caused a major problem for the Cathedral due to spalling and associated health and safety concern. An HLF grant of £4.6m plus £1.3m of contributions allowed the Cathedral to progress a project to remove the asbestos and carry out major refurbishment.

To remove the asbestos plaster a temporary deck was required at 12m above floor level. The floor of the Cathedral comprised a thin Travertine marble floor which was poorly bedded, with fragile copper under floor heating pipes immediately below the thin slab. This had very limited capacity. In addition the Cathedral was required to remain in use during the contract. A conventional birdcage scaffold could not be used. 

ACA designed a method of supporting a temporary aluminium truss deck spanning up to 18m which was supported by the Cathedral structure while minimising disturbance of the historic fabric.

This comprised a system using 163mm diameter steel sockets grouted into diamond drilled holes in the wall. An arrangement of hangers fitted into these sockets and provided a support to the deck. The deck supported a negative pressure compartment for safe removal of the asbestos and other repairs, including plastering, painting and new lighting. On completion, the deck and hangers were removed, the sockets capped off and plastered over. 

Several defects including cracks to the top of the Nave beams, cracks to the vault and other minor defects were investigated. The only reinforcement drawings available showed the nave beam reinforcement and roof slab expansion joint location. The cracks at the top of the beams were associated with the roof slabs, insufficient freedom of movement at the expansion joint coupled with curtailment of the reinforcement cage some way below the bearing. Repair details were developed and implemented.

Works also involved provision of DDA access including a new ramp to the main entrance and platform lift and stair to the rear of the cathedral.

In addition to the above project ACA have provided advice on the provision of concrete repairs to the roof structure in planned re-roofing work and advised on scaffolding access to repair the base of the tower. 

Client

Guildford Cathedral

Architect

Thomas Ford & Partners

Value

£5.9M

Photography

Nikhilesh Havel

Tags

Ecclesiastical, Historic