Diary Archive
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30th June 2008
Specialist electrical contractors working on the individually curved stainless steel conduits.
23rd June 2008
The cleaners washing off dirty residue from the Cibber relief.
17th June 2008
A copper band is removed from the top of the Monument.
16th June 2008
We visit Cathedral Works Organisation at Chichester to see the paterae carving.
9th June 2008
Stonemasons making new indents and work continues on the re-gilding of the orb.
4th June 2008
Work continues on the re-gilding of the orb, modeling compound is applied to the wire armatures of the dragon wings.
29th May 2008
Work starts on the re-gilding of the orb and the front entrance floor is exposed after the concrete screed has been removed.
19th May 2008
Preparation work to the flaming orb nears completion in readiness for the new guilding and the latest images of the City from the Monument.
12th May 2008
Repairs under way to the black limestone viewing platform and
preparation works to the flaming orb prior to new gilding being applied.
6th May 2008
Carver mason Mark Thompson making templates for repairs to the dragon wings
and images showing some of the repairs to the golden orb.
28th April 2008
Latest images showing the repairs to the guilded flaming orb and architect Julian Harrap discuss details on repairs to the griffin wings.
21st April 2008
Metal conservators attach new copper details to the guilded flaming orb and work begins on a
new man safe ring.
14th April 2008
The gilded flaming orb requires specialist cleaning to the ovelo moulding and images showing the original iron fixing rod from the patera, which was fixed underneath the capitol (removed last week).
7th April 2008
A diamond drilling rig is set-up on the underside of the capitol to remove the old iron fixing bolts where the original carved stone paterae were fixed and images showing exposed clay tiles and cramps on one of the dragons.
2nd April 2008
We visit Cathedral Works Organisation in Chichester to see the different patera models. When completed, each patera will be carved out of stone and will sit in each corner under the viewing platform.
26th March 2008
The second installation of the hoarding artwork and images showing repairs to steps - using a purpose made template to mark out position of armatures, drilling holes for the armatures and applying resin to the steps.
19th March 2008
On the north east corner - masons very carefully drill the fractured dragons wing with a manual drill to allow thin stainless steel dowels to be placed across the fracture to stabilise it and we show a further stage in the repair of the steps.
12th March 2008
Mason removing old stone insert from steps using hand tools, images showing some of the low level steps with the old stone inserts removed and specialist stone cleaner using the Jos system to clean below the carving to the pedestal.
4th March 2008
Abseilers fix wraps on the north, south and west elevations and specialist cleaners continue Jos cleaning the lower section of the Cibber relief panel. New movie clip featuring the abseilers will be online during the Easter weekend.
27th February 2008
Doff cleaning to base of the Monument, specialist cleaner applying biocide to one of the four dragons and close-up images showing the repairs to the steps and the stainless steel fixings resined into place ready for structural repairs.
19th February 2008
Specialist metalworkers setting out the armatures inside the drum and stonemason Cliff, removing by hand the old cement mortar that covered the lightning tape within the plinth on the north elevation.
12th February 2008
Whilst the restoration work continues on the outside of the Monument, stonemason Ian, is busy on the inside - making the templates for the new repairs to the steps.
6th Februray 2008
First close up look at the dragons, before cleaning and inspection. Images show carbon build up, algae and lichen growth. Stonemasons have now started to remove the old cement pointing from the base of the column.
29th January 2008
Stonemasons continue to work on the new stone indents and specialist cleaners start cleaning part of the Clibber relief using the JOS cleaning system. Several new video clips showing the cleaning will be online next month.
23rd January 2008
Stonemasons cutting out by hand for new stone indents and stone conservator carefully removing cementitious mortar from above the egg and dart. An image showing the newly pointed joint below the egg and dart.
16th January 2008
Stonemasons continue to carefully remove cementitious mortar from the column and above the egg & dart. Specialist cleaners have partially cleaned the pedestal using the Doff system and have now started on the egg and dart using the Jos system.
9th January 2008
Specialist cleaners start Doff cleaning the north elevation of the pedestal and images showing ungilded copper areas where swags have been removed for repair by specialist conservators.
4th January 2008
Stonemasons repointing the column joints after the removal of the cementitious mortar. A video clip is now online showing a stonemason preparing for a new stone indent. Watch video clip
19th December 2007
Images of the new scaffolding wrap, which covers part of the south, west and north sides of the Monument. Stonemasons continue to repair and repoint the column joints and detail the spandrel in preparation for the new paterea.
12th December 2007
Children from Sir John Cass Foundation Primary School see their artwork unveiled at the Monument. Their mural will form the first section of a much larger hoarding art work, which is due for completion by the end of summer 2008.
7th December 2007
A broken section of black limestone on the viewing platform has been removed to enable inspection of stone below, and work continues on the removal of cementitious mortar and repointing.
27th November 2007
Careful Jos cleaning to carving below the egg & dart gets underway and stonemasons start repointing the column joints after the removal of the cementitious mortar.
21st November 2007
Specialist contractors cleaning the egg and dart under the viewing platform using the Jos system and stonemason Ian Foss carefully remove the cementitious mortar from joints on the column.
13th November 2007
The cleaning of the Monument using the Doff and Jos systems continues and stonemasons Gary Phillips and Ian Foss start carefully removing the cementitious mortar from joints on the drum.
7th November 2007
Following approval from the Architects, Julian Harrap - the cleaning specialists have cleaned the viewing platform using the Jos system and made a start on the moulding directly below.
31st October 2007
Architects, Julian Harrap and Judy Allen inspect an open joint on the dome below the guilding, the results of the trial sample cleaning and an area of black limestone to be cleaned on the viewing platform.
26th October 2007
The asphalt is removed from the viewing platform and we can now see the results of the sample cleaning. Stone mason Ian Foss has produced a sample indent repair and some sample mortar repairs.
15th October 2007
Specialist contractors start sample cleaning using the Doff system and the asphalt on top of the viewing platform is carefully removed using a small mechanical breaker.
10th October 2007
Specialist contractors remove the remaining section of the cage, which involves cutting the cast iron railings into sections using a small electrical saw.
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5th October 2007 |
26th September 2007 |
19th September 2007 |
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13th September 2007 |
6th September 2007 |
28th August 2007 |
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23rd August 2007 |
16th August 2007 |
8th August 2007 |
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3rd August 2007 |
2nd August 2007 |
26th June 2007 |
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Last updated:
12 August, 2008