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Watts Chapel - Compton, Surrey

Conservation of terracotta and brick

The Watts Chapel is a unique example of an Arts and Crafts movement building built by Mary Watts in memory of her husband, G.F.Watts. The chapel is primarily constructed of terracotta, much of it carved and modelled by the local villagers who she trained and employed. Nimbus was responsible for the conservation and cleaning of the external fabric which included some sandstone.

This principally involved the repair of exfoliating and decayed terracotta in which colour matching of mortar played an important part. Some of the carved capitals were beyond repair and had to be remodelled and fired. In addition repointing was carried out to all areas of the external elevations.

The bell tower was of particular significance in that iron cramps used in its construction had rusted and expanded. Most of the bell tower was dismantled and rebuilt using stainless steel cramps. Hydraulic and pozzolanic mortars were used throughout the project and the matching of these mortars with terracotta of many different tones proved the most difficult of the conservation processes.

Architect: Rodney Melville and Partners