Senate House Restoration

Award Winning Project

A two year face-lift of the Senate House has been given a prestigious award by the Stone Federation of Great Britain. The two year restoration programme started in 1998 and will be finished by Christmas 2000, at a cost of £1.1 million.

The Senate House is used for Congregations and Discussions, and other ceremonial University events. The final phase of work started after the Honorary Degrees Ceremony and last Congregation in July this year.

The specialist restorative work on all three phases has been undertaken by the masonry unit of Rattee and Kett (Mowlem). They also won the Millennium Natural Stone Award for the first and second phase.

John Richardson, project manager for the University, said that a high standard of workmanship and careful selection of Portland Stone was extremely important for this work, not least, because the Senate House is a splendid and central piece of University architectural heritage.

The distinctive landmark building, designed by James Gibbs, was built between 1722 and 1730. However, it is thought that the stonework has had only minor repairs carried out during its lifetime.

As a result the external stonework was showing signs of deterioration, particularly on the balustrading and heavily moulded cornice where there was significant weathering. Sections of the defective stonework have been cut out and renewed and all four elevations have been cleaned.