Tintern Abbey is a beautiful and historic site that has been standing for over 700 years. However, the abbey church has been damaged by weathering and erosion over the centuries, as well as previous attempts to restore it. In order to preserve this important monument, Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service, is leading a five-year conservation project.
The conservation project is being carried out in phases. The first phase focused on archaeological investigations, including photogrammetry and laser scanning, to create a detailed 3D model of the abbey church. This model will help the conservation team to understand the structure of the building and to identify any areas that need to be repaired.
The second phase, which is currently underway, will focus on the conservation of the abbey church’s stonework. The conservation team will use a variety of techniques, including traditional stonework repair methods and new technologies, to repair the damage caused by weathering and erosion.
Will Davies gave a fascinating and in-depth talk on the restoration work on Tintern Abbey, the second Cistercian abbey built in the UK; its location was primarily chosen for its remoteness. Construction began in 1131 but those buildings were demolished and rebuilt with the main church being consecrated in 1301. The abbey was mostly destroyed during the dissolution of the monasteries.
In the 18th century the abbey became a fashionable tourist spot and much of the fallen stone was cleared away. The ivy-covered abbey ruins were romanticised in a painting by J W Turner painted in 1794. In 1901 the abbey passed into state guardianship and a series of restoration efforts were made over the next few decades. The damage to the church is due to water ingress and freezing causing the sandstone to break away in layers.
The approach to modern day restoration is a conservation-led approach:
- baseline surveys
- establish a naming convention
- archaeological recording
- structural and conservation assessment
- design and specification of repair work
Credit was given to Dr David Robinson who has been prolific in publishing information about Tintern Abbey, including a comprehensive document review of previous works. He has marked previous interventions on architectural drawings and advised on the authenticity of repairs.
An expert stonemason, David Odgers, has been recruited to advise on the stone deterioration and the materials used for restoration. The advice from other leading experts has established the key conservation principles:
- flexible but consistent approach
- minimum intervention
- sympathetic materials
- record and analyse
Even constructing the scaffolding to carry out repairs has created enormous challenges. The scaffolding must not touch the masonry and requires a solid base to withstand the weight. It required an area evaluation of the ground surrounding the church rather than a research excavation. Once completed, a gravel base was laid down with wooden railway sleepers on top to spread the load.
The conservation will include a definitive set of drawings recording both before and after restoration work – a process sorely lacking in previous works. Funding for the restoration is allocated on an annual basis and the project is likely to take 10 years to complete. Our thanks to Will Davies for a detailed and fascinating talk.
Charles Emes
To get a flavour of what is involved, see the short film clips here.
Image credit: Martinvl own work
