Recently completed projects
June 06 Churchyard Cross. (Grade 1) Church of St James Somerton Oxfordshire
The medieval cross stands in the churchyard of the church at Somerton. It's shaft stands approximately 1.5 metres high above a square base, comprising of a square 4-step marlstone plinth, the lowest step of which has a deep chamfered nosing. The head of the cross has almost indecipherable carvings on all 4 faces, and the top corners of the base are carved with heads. The cross was dismantled some time ago as it appeared unstable and the iron cramps were exerting pressure on the stonework. The work involves carefully replacing the existing iron cramps with stainless steel. One section of one of the stones is in two pieces so this will be dowelled together. The base stones will then be rebedded and repointed with a lime based mortar
(Click on the photos below to see a larger version)
The medieval cross dismantled; shows the top section with a new stainless steel dowel in place.
    
This section of the shaft was split in half and has now been dowelled back together with stainless steel pins and a hydraulic lime and now awaits a mortar repair to compete the process.
  The top two sections of the cross are still dowelled together and show an original iron cramp protruding from the bottom section
The second stone now back in position.
The base stones had to removed and
rebedded on a lime mortar bed.

The old iron dowel is carefully removed by drilling out the lead
The stone is lifted up into position using a simple A frame scaffolding and a block and tackle
    The top stone is back in position
Apart from some repointing... the finished result    
       
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