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Martyrs' Memorial - Oxford

Cleaning and repair of dilapidated gothic memorial

The Martyrs' Memorial is a Victorian gothic monument standing at the head of St. Giles in Oxford. It was designed by Gilbert Scott and erected in 1842 to commemorate the three Protestant bishops, Ridley, Cranmer and Latimer who were burnt at the stake nearby in 1556-7.

The limestone structure was black with atmospheric pollution. The stonework was cleaned using our own nebula spray system and ammonium carbonate poultices. Some missing elements were carved and replaced.

The main bulk of the work involved the sensitive conservation of the three statues. These had decayed badly and been repaired extensively using cement mortar that was accelerating the decay of the original stone. This mortar was removed and large scale modelling carried out in hydraulic and putty lime mortar applied over ceramic armatures manufactured specially for Nimbus (Nim T’s). These fired clay armatures are used in preference to metal because the coefficient of expansion of the clay is similar to the mortar and also, being porous, there is a greater bond between mortar and armature.

Following completion of the programme of stone conservation, other features of the work were then carried out. To avoid future problems caused by the local pigeons, netting was erected around each figure and spikes fixed upon some of the landing spots amongst the pinnacles. Around the base of the memorial are twelve stone heraldic shields which were re-painted to match the existing scheme.

The nine rows of magnesian limestone steps, which form the plinth of the monument, were stabilised using stainless steel anchors and the whole area grouted in ‘St. Paul’s’ grout mix. The bottom York stone step which had once held cast iron railings, was cracked and spalled and edges had eroded and chipped. It was replaced and Cornish cobbles, into which fibre optic uplighters were inserted, were laid in the ground around the steps.

The project was shortlisted for the 2004 Pilgrim Trust Conservation Award.

Client: Oxford Historic Buildings Trust
Architect: Donals Insall Associates