The Methodist Church of St Sidwell’s was constructed in 1901 in a decorative Edwardian Baroque style. For the construction the pioneering French Engineer, Paul Cottancin, was employed to design the building using his patented technique for reinforced masonry and woven mesh reinforced concrete.

Scope of Works:

• Sympathetic concrete repairs to a Grade 11* listed building

After 100 years the chapel was closed for safety reasons after sections of concrete and plaster started to fall from the internal soffits and concrete mouldings over the street.

The Architects and Engineers were engaged by the Church to evaluate the deterioration and seek funding for the subsequent repairs.

The concrete cover to the reinforcement was low so the concrete in some areas was carbonated to the steel reinforcement and along with water penetration through the roof this had caused the original steel to rust and spall the concrete. With the help of funding from English Heritage the work proceeded to refurbish the building and CRL were engaged to repair the fine decorative concrete mouldings.

This was a very complex repair to a listed building. CRL developed a technique for hand modeling the repairs to the intricate mouldings that had decayed and were in danger of falling from the building. The work included replacing corroded steel bars and wires with new stainless steel reinforcement.

CRL experience in undertaking sympathetic repairs to listed buildings ensured that the concrete elements were successfully repaired and the Church was once again able to open its doors to the congregation.

Client: St Sidwell’s Church

Value: £64,000