Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
and setting the bricks led to problems with the bricks being ordered slightly
undersized for their purpose. Stone springing blocks and voussoirs were also cut
off site to differing tolerances by another company and this, combined with the
inevitable variations in the actual opening width of the arches, resulted in the
joints in the gauged work being larger than found in the original work.
Despite these difficulties, there is no doubt that the finished work is outstand-
ing (Fig. 161). Indeed, at the BDA Brick Awards 2006, the reconstruction of the
West Side Buildings was awarded both
Supreme Winner
and the
Best Craftsmanship
Award
whilst Irvine-Whitlock was named
Specialist Brickwork Contractor of the Year
. It
is, therefore, perhaps churlish to criticise such highly acclaimed work but it can
be argued that it lacks that delicate, almost intangible quality imparted by skilled
craftsmen hand-working each brick on site with empathy to its setting.
Figure 161
Part of a new
gauged arch on the
reconstruction of the
west side of St Pancras
Station, London, 2006.
(Courtesy of Roderick
Shelton)
Undoubtedly the bricklayers have developed valuable new skills in the fixing of
pre-cut arch components as a result of this project but equally they missed out
on a comprehensive education in the art of gauged brickwork. As a consequence,
the industry itself has lost the opportunity of gaining young new craftsmen and
