In 2019, areas of the surface were cleaned off and new limewash paint samples were applied. Following that, we monitored these samples for 18 months to determine which sample performed best and is most suitable for re-painting the entire structure.
Thanks to a £70k grant from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and over £30k of fundraising by the second-hand bookshop team, the exterior has now been carefully stripped of old paint layers using high pressure steam, re-rendered in places and repainted to reflect the original stone effect paintwork that it would have had when first built.
Over 250 metres of cracks have been filled and leadwork around the roof gulley’s and lionhead spouts carefully repaired and replaced where necessary. Whilst working on the roof the team found signatures left by the original lead workers in 1765 and from a team working on the building in 1956, as per tradition, the current team has also left their mark for future generations to discover. We also took the opportunity to repair and redecorate sections of the window joinery and doors.