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St. Paul’s Cathedral Nave and aisles (Phase 4)

Final stage of cleaning and conservation of Wren’s interior

Between 2003 and 2004, Nimbus carried out the cleaning and conservation of the aisles and Nave of Wren’s masterpiece. Although this was one of the last stages of the overall project which has been running since 2001, it brought with it some new challenges.

The Arte Mundit system was used for cleaning – this involves initial vacuuming of the stonework followed by extensive protection around the area to be treated. The material is sprayed on at night to avoid any disruption and then, once the latex has cured, it is peeled off after 24 hours and the stone surface cleaned with very small amounts of water.

Following cleaning, loose and discoloured pointing is removed and replaced with hydraulic lime mortar. Rusted cramps are either treated or removed, ferramenta are painted and the original Wren balustrade at the west end was regilded. Specialist decorating sub contractors (Hare & Humphries) stripped emulsion paint from the saucer domes and repainted the plaster surface with size bound distemper.

As part of the works to the aisles, all of the marble monuments have also been conserved. Of particular importance is the Wellington monument that dominates the north side of the Nave. This is constructed of bronze and marble and a number of different methods were used to remove pollution layers and the waxes that had been applied over the years.

Client: Dean and Chapter of St. Paul’s Cathedral
Surveyor of the Fabric: Martin Stancliffe