Protecting York Minster from the British weather
Posted on 1 June 2010
Architect Andrew Arrol will use his lecture to explain how climate conditions combined with pollution and poor stone selection damages the magnesian limestone used to construct York Minster.He will also explore the challenges this poses to those charged with preserving historic structures and the difficult choices they sometimes face between simply trying to preserve the existing fabric of the building or carrying out more radical work that maintains its design.
All too often our aspirations for stone conservation work seem more suited to a dryer and more stable climate
Andrew Arrol
Mr Arrol is Surveyor of the Fabric at York Minster and has overseen the restoration of the building’s East Front. He has almost 40 years experience in the conservation of stone on medieval buildings, including as Cathedral Architect at Chester Cathedral.
He said: “Britain has a challenging climate and an astonishingly diverse geology but all too often our aspirations for stone conservation work seem more suited to a dryer and more stable climate with a continental geology.
“It is hardly surprising that the British have developed an instinctive desire to ‘preserve fabric’ even when this means avoiding a reinstatement that would otherwise preserve the design. Yet preserving the original design is especially important if our buildings are not to quietly mutate over the years.”
Mr Arrol’s lecture “Designing to preserve; preserving the design - the problems of magnesian limestone at York” is the latest in the “Science in the city” series of public lectures considering environmental issues facing York.
Further details about the lectures in this series and other public lectures hosted by the University of York can be found at www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/events/public-lectures/.
Mr Arrol’s lecture on Thursday 3 June will start at 7pm in room C/A/101 in the Department of Chemistry. Admission is free and open to all.
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