Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
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Cutting-out eroded ashlared bricks and replacing to Platt band and
re-pointing
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Re-introducing lost original gauged work features to the central bay of east
elevation
In order to undertake repairs and restoration of the gauged enrichments on all
elevations of this property, it was first important to establish a covered workshop
area, where materials could be carefully stored and prepatory works under-
taken. This area was equipped with a setting out bench made from timber,
where full-size drawings could be traced and the various templets established. I
also set up a cutting bench with a large beam above it to strut down from onto
bricks in the cutting boxes for cutting with the bow saw fitted and twisted wire
blade from 18 gauge mig wire. All the cutting boxes were made in-house, the
profiled moulding boxes being copied from the various templets obtained dur-
ing the course of remedial works.
On this bench, at either end, were positioned large rubbing stones; one of
York stone and the other of limestone. The York stone was used for the gen-
eral rubbing to get each and every rubber 'squared on bed and stretcher faces,
prior to boxing for cutting. The limestone rubbing stone was also useful in giv-
ing a fine face to some of the rubbers; as the original salvaged rubbers re-acted
differently to the slightly harder new bricks. Once cut to size and shape, within
the box by the bow saw, the bricks were abraded flat, using a selection of flat
files, timber battens etc, to remove all saw marks and to answer to the control-
ling sides of the boxes.
Also within the compound we established a storage area for all the recorded
and dismantled gauged enrichments, stored within labelled boxes, and for the
new oversized rubbers for bespoke work, as well as the pre-cut ashlared units
and arch sets; delivered in protective timber boxes and bubble-wrapped. Having
worked with other companies rubbing bricks I made my selection base on
matching the colour and texture of the originals and so these were purchased
from W.T. Lambs (Bricks and Arches) Limited, Sussex. Warfield house is very
close to where the old 'Tommy Lawrence' brickyards were who produced the
famous TLB orange/red rubbers, and all the rubbers used on the later Victorian
gauged work were of these bricks. That said the original Georgian gauged work
was built from pre-Lawrence rubbers made from the same local material, though
un-washed.
There were a large number of flat arches to repair as the inappropriate grit-
blasting had removed up to 20 mm of their faces, seriously pitting them and
eroding and shattering many of the joints; and all needed to be taken apart
and after preparation, re-built.
The first thing to do was record each and every one of the arches, by giving
them a specific number in relation to their position on each elevation. Each
