scaffolding and lights |
Much of the project was carried out during June 2019, when the conservators restored the decorations painted on the north and south walls of the chancel. The treatment revealed the colours as bright and very noticeable. |
the east wall |
On the east wall the painting of the genealogical tree from Adam to Abraham was restored, but the text around the window arch was hard to decipher! The murals on the east date from Seddon's work in 1853, while the ones on the north wall are from work carried out in a later period - 1867. The conservators understand the east wall paintings to be of a later date of around 1867 and that the earlier painted roof timbers were added with golden stars by Seddon. |
Seddon's stars on the beams |
It was possible to continue working on the chancel walls through the bat 'closed season'because the ecologist was satisfied that it would not disrupt the bats' activities. The first phase was finished before the end of June 2019. This was just the painted decoration, without any of the consolidation needed on the plaster, which had to await the completion of the work on the roof. Once that this was finished, the final plasterwork could be carried out. |
According to the project's Bat Mitigation Licence, which was valid for five years ending 13th December 2023, work on the church was only permitted during two periods in a year: after hibernation, in March and April, and after breeding and maternity, in October and November. The J W Walker organ was dismantled and work on it carried on off-site so that once work on the chancel was finished, the organ could be rebuilt. This was originally planned to be completed by the end of 2019, which was be the instrument's 150th anniversary, it having been originally built in 1869. First, structural complications discovered during the early phases of the work, and then Covid 19, set back the programme considerably. The organ was finally restored to full working order in May 2021
Seddon's stars on the beams
On the east wall the painting of the genealogical tree from Adam to Abraham has also been restored although the text around the window arch was hard to decipher. The conservators understand the east wall paintings to be of a later date of around 1867 and that the earlier painted roof timbers were added with golden stars by Seddon.
repainting the north wall