THE culmination of a major 37-year repair programme at Salisbury Cathedral has been recognised with a prestigious award.
Skilled work was carried out on the high east end gable, and the north and south pinnacles of the cathedral were repaired, which formed part of larger work to restore the spire, tower and main body.
The 22nd Natural Stone Awards recognised the skilled work that has taken place on the high East End gable of the cathedral.
The cathedral’s clerk of works, Gary Price, and head mason, Lee Andrews, recently attended awards ceremony in London to collect the award and celebrate the very best of the natural stone industry.
Chicksgrove Limestone provided by Lovell Stone Group, came from a quarry close to Tisbury and was used to complete the repairs, the same seam which was used when the cathedral was built 800 years ago.
This collaboration was celebrated by the judges, providing a welcome relief when the construction industry has become so globalised.
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Salisbury is one of only 10 cathedrals to have an in-house team of skilled stonemasons who still use original carving techniques to conserve the cathedral for future generations.
Speaking on the final repairs, the judges said: “The work at the east end is of a consistent and exemplary representative quality that has been achieved throughout the entire project and it is fantastic to see the cathedral sans scaffolding at last.”
Gary Price and Lee Andrews with judges at Natural Stone Awards Picture: Salisbury Cathedral
Clerk of works Gary Price said: “We are delighted that our work on this incredible building is being recognised by The Stone Federation. It has been a privilege to oversee the major repair programme.”
Canon treasurer Kenneth Padley, who is responsible for the fabric of the building said: “We are delighted that our amazing Works team has received this honour, and that the track record of Salisbury Cathedral to delivering heritage excellence has been acknowledged on a national stage.
“The cathedral remains, as it was built, a beacon to the glory and eternity of God.”
Canon Kenneth Padley, canon treasurer of Salisbury Cathedral at the top of the scaffold on the East End of the cathedral to bless the cross that sits high above the Trinity Chapel Picture: Finnbarr Webster
Although the scaffolding on the outside of the building was removed in September 2023, work on the cathedral is never over.
The newest project is the restoration of the cathedral cloisters. The largest in England, they are made up of some of the most elaborately carved stones on the cathedral, using the same Purbeck and Chicksgrove limestone.
In order to repair and restore this beautiful space, the cathedral has launched an opportunity to sponsor a stone in the north cloisters, where people and businesses can have four characters carved into the stone before it is set in place and help to preserve and protect this precious heritage.
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