Comper work restoration - phase 2. |
Time, dirt and general wear and tear have all made the roof and High Altar Tester appear something more than a little drab. This current phase of the restoration program will soon (hopefully) cure that though!
The only problem is what is required to complete the works, scaffolding, plastic sheeting and ladders have taken over the entire area. The restorers have even had to work laying down in places, shades of the Sistene Chapel and Michelangelo perhaps?
Just wait though. Once the end results are reveled it will be worth it!
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Picture 1
A general view showing the general state of the roof and Tester.
If you look to the right of the front corner of the Tester there is a small area which has been test cleaned. This really shows the level of grime!
Click on the picture to see a larger version if you can't make out the detail. |
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Picture 2
St Wilfrid might be in hiding but, if you look very carefully there is a High Altar in there somewhere!
Liberal use of plastic sheeting protects everything from accidental damage while ladders provide access to the platform erected as a temporary work floor. |
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Picture 3
A view not seen very often, the roof from close up.
The black "table" running across the bottom of the picture (with some of the restorer's equipment on) is one of the roof beam. Under the paper roll
is a mortise which suggests at one time there was a vertical beam supporting the roof! |
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Picture 4
Cleaned and resplendent in its new coat of paint this is a detail of the Cornice, somewhere above the usual home of St Wilfrid.
The silver at the bottom is just the tape used to hold the plastic sheeting in place - soon to be removed! |
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Picture 5
How's this for a difference then? Starting at the top is the old colour. Below that is a cleaned and stripped area and finally the "finished" colour.
Amazing what a few years does to such vibrant colours. |
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Picture 6
Ever wondered what the view from the top of the Screen is like? Wonder no more, here it is.
More importantly, look at the wall above the arch, it used to be white! If one was to scrape away the layers of paint, the bottom (and original?) layer is a shade of orange! Who said the Victorians weren't colourful? |
