In December 1996 the ownership of Stoneleigh Abbey passed to a charitable trust who, with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, English Heritage, the European Regional Development Fund, and in partnership with Warwick District Council have repaired and restored the buildings of the Abbey during the course of a four year programme.
west wing
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Approximately 45 stonemasons were working at the Abbey at any one time, often working seven days a week. Over 225 cubic metres (450 tonnes) of newly quarried cream Grinshill stone passed through conservation specialist Linford-Bridgeman’s Quonians workshops for the West Wing. In addition to the balustrade, substantial stonework repairs on the building elevations were carried out including the replacement of carved capitals, jamb stones, sills, ashlars and arched header stones. Where possible Linford-Bridgeman also carried out stone conservation and mortar repairs to preserve some of the less damaged stones.
gatehouse
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The gatehouse is one of a few complete monastic gatehouses left, most are in ruins. The structure of the building is almost entirely mid fourteenth century with the remains of a late thirteenth century east gable end. In restoring the building, the roof tiles were removed which revealed an original arch-braced collar truss roof, with two levels of cusped wind braces. This would, at one time, have been visible to visitors in the hall below and shows the gatehouse to have been an impressive high status building. During the seventeenth century alterations were made to the building, one of which was the insertion of a new roof which now obscures the mediaeval roof from view internally.
riding school & stables
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Built in the 1820’s, the first two bays of the stables have been fully restored using the same methods and materials used in their original construction. The ceilings of the stables are constructed from oak laths covered by a lime plaster which was then lime washed. The whole was then ‘lined out’ to simulate the effect of stone. This method is known as Ashler stone and was the technique used when the stables were built. Local stone was no longer available so the best matches for colour and structure were sought. Red sandstone was used from Corse Hill in Dumfries for the mediaeval Gatehouse Stables and Riding School.
conservatory
The Conservatory was badly affected by subsidence to the foundations, shown by large and extensive cracks in the stonework particularly over windows and doors. The corners of the building had dropped by up to 200mm and were 75mm out of plumb. Ascough & Associates, structural engineers, came up with an innovative solution. By drilling 75mm diameter holes within the thickness of the stone walls around the length and breadth of the conservatory, at high and low level, and then grouting in tie rods a ring beam was formed to prevent further movement of the structure. The masonry could then be repaired, windows and joinery restored and a new glazed roof installed.
The pillars of the West
Wing Gilt Hall were
all hand painted
Intricate details, carved
by skilled masons
Finding the right
mortar colour
The exposed timbers of
the gatehouse roof
The windows of the
stables were repaired
by stained glass
conservators Holywell
Glass of Wells, Somerset
Preparing the oak laths
for the lime plaster
Restoring the arched walkways of the
Riding School
