Westminster Abbey

Renovation and repairs to the external features of London’s world-renowned royal church.

Originally built under the instruction of Edward the Confessor in 1056, and later rebuilt by Henry III between 1220 and 1272, Westminster Abbey is a world-renowned architectural Gothic masterpiece.

We were engaged by Donald Buttress, Surveyor to the Fabric of Westminster Abbey, in 1990 to undertake significant repairs and renovations to the external masonry, stone works and carving, as well as the façade in two phases. The first phase focused on the Nicholas Hawksmoor designed Western Towers, completed in 1993. Phase Two involved the repairs to the external masonry, stone carving and façade of the Henry VII Chapel, and was completed in 1995.

A key challenge of the project involved the manual inspection of each detail on the façade to conduct assessment of conditions. The true extent of the works required was only quantified and confirmed after the scaffolding was erected. Where possible, existing features were retained and restored, however a proportion of the stone works required replication.