Built more than 900 years ago, Winchester Cathedral is a remarkable feat of engineering, design and long-term sustainability. Yet even buildings created to endure centuries are not immune to the effects of time and weather.
This essential programme of repairs is estimated to cost £1.5 million and will be carried out over the next ten years by the Cathedral’s highly skilled team of heritage craftspeople. Their work will combine traditional techniques with specialist expertise, respecting the historic fabric of the building while securing its future.
A long-term, carefully planned strategy is in place to repair the entire South Nave Aisle on a bay-by-bay basis, progressing from west to east. This approach allows each section of stonework and glazing to receive the detailed attention it requires.
The programme of work includes:
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Cleaning, conserving and repointing historic masonry
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Repairing, replacing and hand-carving stonework, including grotesques and gargoyles where necessary
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Conserving medieval stained glass, undertaken by specialist contractors working alongside the Cathedral stonemasons
The first three bays sit alongside Curle’s Passage, a busy pedestrian route linking the inner and outer areas of the Cathedral Close. For this reason, repairs at the west end of the South Nave Aisle have been prioritised to ensure public safety while protecting this highly visible part of the Cathedral.
