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Holy Trinity - Bosham

Re-rendering of Saxon and Norman tower

The Saxon tower of Holy Trinity, Bosham dates from the 11th century and is built of a variety of materials including re-used Roman stone, flint, bricks and tiles. The quoins and string courses are of dressed limestone (mostly Bembridge).

The original render applied to protect these materials had been allowed to decay. The remnants were removed to allow for its replacement by a cement rendering which in turn had failed and had subsequently been removed from over half of the tower; and the revealed wall pointed in cement. This resulted in water penetrating into the tower and the accelerating decay of the fabric.

After consultation with English Heritage, and other interested bodies, Nimbus, after removal of all cement, re-rendered the whole of the tower using a copy of the saxon render - traces of which were found on the tower.

Thirteen tons of this rendering (consisting of lime putty, sand, crushed brick and crushed chalk) was applied in one coat; the character of the wall being retained by following the contours presented by the different materials. The render was given a rough finish by brushing it as it dried so as to reveal the aggregate.

The quoins and string courses were left unrendered but were cleaned, consolidated and repaired. Some very fine romanesque corbels, which being very dirty had been hidden in the shadow of the roof, were treated in a similar way.

The tower, restored to its original form, can now withstand the weather and yet reflects the character of the materials of which it was built and the whole has a character that once more dominates the promontory of Bosham harbour.

Client: Bosham PCC
Architect: E. O. Purser