Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 27
The author introducing
one of the masons
to the brick axe and
training him in its
correct use to help
re-create the same
tooling marks on the
remedial work as are on
the original fifteenth-
century cut-moulded
bricks, at Kirby Muxloe
Castle (Leicestershire),
1480-84.
Background of the Contractors
By Pam Oakden, Area Manager, Midland Masonry Limited
Midland Masonry Limited is a leading conservation specialist who have
restored and conserved cathedrals, churches, castles, estates, public and pri-
vate buildings. It can mix the traditional skills of bricklayers, stonemasons,
carpenters and joiners, roofing specialists and lead workers with today's tech-
nology. It uses, wherever possible, authentic materials and works closely with
its clients throughout the project to ensure satisfaction.
The experience and expertise within Midland Masonry Limited enables it to
undertake the most intricate and demanding projects, each individually assessed
and teams assembled to meet the particular skills and expertise required.
In 2005 Midland Masonry was commissioned to restore and consolidate the
South Tower, which required extensive structural work to safeguard it. The
high parts of the tower were secured with stainless steel ties to prevent collapse.
Large sections of the chimney had to be re-built using a mix of the original
bricks and new hand-shaped and tooled squint bricks. The company's skilled
craftsmen, under lead mason Roy Harvey, could then begin to repair and
where necessary renew the patterned and specialised shaped bricks to the spi-
ral staircase and large sections of the brick newel post and vaulted ceiling. Also
the doorways to the South Tower had extensive erosion to the moulded jambs;
many shaped and tooled bricks were cut and rubbed by hand to restore these
important features.
