How Clipsham Limestone was Used to Restore the Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster has a rich history, which features Clipsham limestone as a major component of its stone repair work throughout the 1900s. In this post, we’re going to take a look back at how the Palace as we know it today came to be and how the renovation of stone using Clipsham limestone kept her standing.
The History of the Palace of Westminster
The site of Westminster itself was first built upon in the eighth century and has been built, rebuilt and extended over the centuries. The very first form of the palace as we know it today was erected in the early 11th century by the Danish King Cnut.
In 1097, William II added the New Palace Yard and began work on Westminster Hall. Soon, a treasury and the exchequer were established at Westminster. In 1245, the very first physical royal throne came to the Palace. Then, the Chancery found its home at Westminster in 1310.
And so the reform and restoration of Westminster Palace have continued; through the additions of the Queen’s Chapel, the Queen’s Chamber and the King’s Chamber by Henry III to the Jewel Tower in 1365. All the way through to 1835, when architects Charles Barry and Augustus Welby Pugin won the contract to redesign and restore the palace following a great fire the year before.
The Stone of Westminster Palace
All of this brings us to modern history and the first use of Midlands stone. Barry and Pugin built modern Westminster Palace with a sand-coloured limestone from the Anston Quarry in Yorkshire. The search for the perfect stone was the start of The Building Stone Collection, now housed at the Natural History Museum.
Anston limestone was cheap as a material and easily carved to create the spectacular designs of the palace. However, the limestone proved unable to stand the test of time – partly due to acid corrosion from London’s high smoke pollution levels.
By the 1920s, Westminster Palace was in desperate need of restoration again.
Stone Repair for Westminster Palace
The renovation of stone structures of Westminster was no easy feat. The restorations with Anston limestone had already shown that the wrong composition of stone could lead to decay far sooner than expected – especially with London’s rising pollution levels. So, choosing an alternative was a task that took careful planning and consideration.
As conservationists know, it’s not as simple as choosing a stronger stone to restore a building with the history and status of the Palace of Westminster.
The Palace is not only a Grade I listed building, but one of the most important historic sites in England. It was vital not only to repair the palace but preserve its original structures as far as possible.
In the end, Clipsham limestone was chosen for the stone renovation and stone repairs at Westminster Palace. Clipsham limestone has similar colouring to Anston limestone, but its particular composition makes it much more resistant to acidity. This made it a better choice for the polluted capital.
The stone restoration project began at Westminster in the 1930s but, due to the war, it wasn’t completed until the 60s. Today, much of the ornamental front of the Houses of Parliament consists of Clipsham limestone.
Clipsham Limestone and the Renovation of Stone
Many restoration projects throughout England rely on Clipsham limestone. This is because Clipsham limestone is a close colour match for many of England’s historic buildings, but it is also highly durable and resistant to pollution. What’s more, it’s readily available from our very own Clipsham quarry.
Clipsham Limestone in Historic Builds
Clipsham limestone has been used both in the original creation of historic builds and in modern-day stone repair work. It was Clipsham limestone that was used to create parts of parts of the Great North Road in Roman times and is also believed to be the source of the famous London Stone landmark. Medieval builders used Clipsham limestone in the construction of Windsor Castle in the 1300s. What’s more, about 50% of the limestone above the plinth of Big Ben has been replaced with Clipsham limestone.
The Unique colourings of Clipsham Limestone
This particular form of limestone is often described as ‘blue hearted’. This means that while golden-cream on the outside, some blocks of Clipsham limestone are blue-marbled within. This has been avoided by some architects and embraced by others. Architect Donovan Purcell purposefully used the blue marbling to create replacement columns in the Galilee Porch of Ely Cathedral. This created a pleasant contrast to the rest of the building.
Clipsham Limestone and the Renovation of Stone in Modern Times
In the 20th and 21st centuries, Clipsham limestone was used in a number of major stone restoration projects.
This includes work on several Oxford and Cambridge colleges and Peterborough, York Minster, Canterbury and Salisbury Cathedrals.
Our most recent restoration and conservation projects include the University Arms Hotel in Cambridge and The New Orangery at Rushton Hall.
Let Stamford Stone Assist You in Your Stone Repair
At Stamford Stone, we are experts in the renovations of stone and stone repair. Not only are we stone suppliers, but we can be your partners in design. We work frequently on restoration, conservation and heritage projects throughout the UK. We are familiar with the requirements of working on listed buildings and have taken part in some incredible conservation projects.
We’ll ensure your restoration project is compliant, structurally sound, and will last the test of time. Not to mention, of course, the stunning beauty promised when you choose our natural stone.
To find out more, get in touch today.