Built: 1896-97 By Ingall and Sons of Birmingham. An elaborate chapel in mixed Early English and Decorated styles. Snecked Pennant stone with ornate Bath limestone dressings, slate roofs.

Although this was not a particularly large contract for us, it was complex and demanded the full range of our skills. Working with one of the region’s leading heritage main contractors, we were engaged to:

• Carry out sensitive DOFF™ cleaning of the west entrance Pennant walling and Bath limestone features.
• Undertake significant structural alterations to the south elevation of the spire. This involved working around substantial back-propping and temporary works, required to support the spire during the process. We shortened the tall, gothic-arched window by raising the sill level and replacing the existing component and made masonry alterations to introduce full-width lintels. These were necessary to create an opening large enough to accommodate a new disabled access lift and staircase.

• •   Carefully dismantle and rebuild a low-level Bath stone balcony.

• •   Construct a new street-level boundary wall to retain the disabled entrance ramp and steps. This included the supply of locally sourced, twice-weathered Pennant copings.

• Carry out detailed Bath limestone indents to internal features, including ornate corbels forming the springers for the arched windows, and to the moulded voussoirs.

Our scope expanded once proper access was gained to the upper sections of the building. It became clear that the general Pennant sandstone was, in places, in poor condition. The pitched face of the stone had begun to delaminate, posing a risk of large masonry fragments falling from height. To address this, significant areas of the

building were defrassed—in some cases, the entire face of the stone detached in a single sheet. The affected areas were then raked out and repointed to restore structural integrity and appearance.

The grand rose window on the north elevation had also deteriorated significantly. Over time, settlement of the building had caused notable displacement in the glazing mullions and tracery. Although full replacement of the window was desirable, budget and programme constraints made this impractical.

Instead, and with great care to avoid further damage, long stainless steel dowels were introduced across the fractures to stabilize the displaced elements. The fractures were then pointed to prevent moisture ingress, and the window was refurbished to make it as safe and secure as practicable within the available time and financial limitations.

With the works now complete, the building has been returned to the community, where it serves as an outreach centre for the Methodist Church in Cardiff.