Rock of Ages

There’s so much more to windows than the glass…

And with historic glass comes historic stonework. It wasn’t just a case of ‘popping’ the Mediaeval Creation Window out, and filling the window holes with temporary glazing until its return. Far from it!

Since the beginning of March, two master stonemasons, Justin and Agger from Sally Strachey Historic Conservation have been doing vital repairs to the stonework surrounding the stained glass.

The Priory’s built from sandstone, which over time erodes, given the glorious British weather - wind, rain, snow, frost, hail, sun - you name it, Malvern experiences it.

So in times past, when the stone of the vertical dividing bars (mullions) had decayed, they had been cut through along the glazing groove and new facing stone ‘stuck’ on the front. When the glass was removed for conservation it was very apparent that the replacement stone had only been loosely fixed in position.

Inch by inch, the stonemasons have been bracing the stone before carefully drilling into it and inserting long stainless steel dowels (rods) from the outside face of the stone into the internal stone which faces the inside of St Anne’s chapel. This then ties the stone together, holding it safely and firmly in place.

The dowels (bottom right) are cut to length, glued in position and the drill hole is covered with coloured mortar. At the same time failed mortar has been replaced in the stonework around the window opening.

It’ll soon be ‘farewell’ to Justin and Agger, as the stained glass is returned, so a big ‘thank you’ for working, almost unseen, through the vagaries of Malvern weather to help us protect the priceless heritage of the Priory church.