Report Prepared For: Mrs. D Taylor-Pitkin Clerk To The Council Porlock Parish Council

Parish Office, Old School Centre West End, Porlock Somerset TA24 8QD

Telephone: 01643 863350 Email: prolockpc@gmail.com Our Ref: WM-20200128_Porl Report Date: 28th January 2020 Report & Quotation: War Memorial – Dunster Steep, Porlock. We would respectfully refer you to the photograph sheets you kindly sent to us prior to and in conjunction with this report. We have also carried out some research and viewed archive photographs to help appreciate the history, original structure and the current condition of the memorial but have not carried out an on-site first-hand inspection. The intention of this report is to give an overview of the possible issues concerning this memorial and an estimate as to the costs that may be involved. Should you wish to consider the enclosed proposals further then we would be pleased to proceed with undertaking the work with the provision that on first-hand inspection if there are any aspects to the memorials condition that are not apparent from the supplied photographs, we reserve the right to highlight these and raise them as chargeable additions. However, we would always contact you and discuss any such matters and provide a quotation before proceeding or incurring you any additional expense. This memorial consists of a tall trefoiled or floriated cross set on a matching tapering column surmounting a base with 3-tiered steps all constructed from red-sandstone blocks. This structure sits on a raised area surrounded by stone cobbles at the junction of the A39 where it splits at Dunster Steep. There is a small dry stone retaining wall behind the memorial which has been cut into the rising bank that has been landscaped with shrubs and turfing. In front of the memorial there is a raised wall from the road with matching red-sandstone copings. Set centrally in this front wall is a cream coloured limestone (possibly Portland Stone) inscription panel. It is constructed with in-set/recessed panels in blockwork with a raised boarder with a checked top set to a weathering shaped small plinth. Directly in front of this panel is a wooden edging in-laid with light coloured stone chippings. Set to the top and corner surfaced of this structure are metallic spikes which appear to be black enamel coated. We understand your enquiry is in respect to this inscription panel and its conservational restoration. We have however also provided for your consideration costs for attending to the Cross memorial at the same time. The memorial surfaces have weathered and appear to have carbon deposits and biological growths caused by the close proximity of the busy roads and plentiful negational growth. The whole memorial would benefit from a full professional restoration cleaning by our skilled and trained craftsmen. They would utilize the “DOFF System” method of cleaning as the principle cleaning technique which will remove the biological growths (such as algae and lichen) and generally clean the masonry. It should be noted that due to the delicate nature of the masonry especially around the lettered areas due to erosion over time, that the DOFF cleaning would need to be very delicately used. Whilst this should still remove a lot of surface dirt and debris as well as most biological growths, there may still be remnants of lichen marks and other stains so that the masonry will not appear as new but is will be a careful, considered, conservation cleaning in line with the War Memorial Trust’s guidelines and recommendations following best conservation practice.

Continued:-

-2-

Report continued:- The DOFF System is unlike any other steam or jet-wash system. It produces a very LOW PRESSURE but very high-temperature steam - up to 150°C at the nozzle end and the skilled operator is able to vary the temperature and pressure to vaporise and remove many types of dirt, grime and biological matter. The steam/superheated water will not only remove moss, algae, fungi and other biological matter but will also kill off the spores. This high-temperature steam should also sterilise the stone reducing any potential risks caused by sewerage contamination to public health but also help restore the memorial to its previous appearance without causing any further erosion or material deterioration.

When the temperature in the system is high the pressure on the surface being cleaned is very gentle and the volume of water is low. The surface is therefore not saturated and will be dry within minutes. From the photographs reviewed, the joints between the blockwork in the inscription panels appears to be missing and failing in some areas. Should the missing/failing pointing not be addressed in the short-term, then this will lead to a rapid deterioration of the memorial and masonry generally allowing water penetration which can lead also to frost damage, as well as allowing vegetation to begin growing within the missing mortar areas. There are already several areas where vegetative growth has begun and needs to be arrested before it causes significant problems with the structural integrity of the memorial. We would therefore strongly recommend that following the cleaning, all of the existing mortar is carefully checked and tested after the memorial has been cleaned. Then any missing, loose/open and defective pointing will need to be carefully hand-raked out by hand using a club hammer and relevant chisels or for finer joints a thin stainless-steel blade or hook. The use of mechanical cutting discs/angle grinders should not be permitted. All tools should be suitable to the joint being worked and bed to a depth of 2-2½ times the width of the stone joint or 25-40mm (whichever is greater) to ensure an adequate bond. Largely empty joints should be deep tamped and if necessary, hand grouted to fill in the joint to the required depth in preparation for pointing. Once raked out, all joints should be carefully and thoroughly brushed out and cleaned to remove dust, loose material and residual mortar particles should be flushed with clean, fresh water, avoiding unnecessary saturation. A biocide should then be used if the joints are covered with organic growth as part of the cleaning process. The joints should then be re-pointed using a lime-based mortar closely matched in constitution, consistency, colour and texture to the original mortar mix. The inscription panels are hand-engraved with v-cut letters which have then been inlaid with black enamel to ensure that they remain legible. The black enamel has begun to weather away and flake in most areas. From the photographs it would appear, that whilst the actual engraved letters have weathered as the surface of the limestone has eroded over time, they remain relatively deep and sharp and possibly do not, at this time, require deepening and re-sharpening although they would significantly benefit from re-black-enamelling following the recommended cleaning process.

Continued:-

-3- Continued:-

However, we would recommend that this is reviewed first-hand by our specialist who will be on site after the cleaning has been completed and prior to the re-black-enamelling, to assess whether the lettering does require re-sharpening and deepening by skilled craftsmen. The metallic spikes would probably benefit from cleaning and removal of any loose or defective paint, the treatment of any rust areas and then the re-painting with black enamel.

Our charges for carrying out the described work above on the inscription panel section of the overall memorial would be as follows:- To: 1/ Professionally clean the inscription panel section of the memorial,

utilising the methods described above including all necessary access equipment etc £1,175.00 2/ PROVISIONAL – if required after cleaning and inspection of all joints: Rake out using specialist hand-tools any loose and defective mortar on the monument and paved area & then re-point by hand using a matching lime-based mortar as close to the original existing mortar as possible – please note that this figure is based on up to 5 linear meters of re-pointing being required which is estimated from the photographs provided – if after the cleaning process more extensive re-pointing work is required then we will contact you with a quotation for this additional work £ 225.00 3/ After memorial cleaning, re-black-enamel the existing inscription by careful hand-painting by skilled craftsmen all lettering £1,325.00 * 4/ Prepare and then re-black enamel the metallic spike feature to the top of the inscription panel as described above £ 145.00

£2,870.00 Value Added Tax @ 20% £ 574.00 £3,444.00 * Again as we state in the report, the inscription appears to be deep enough and sharp enough to be able to re-black enamel the letters

– however if following cleaning process it appears that the erosion and weathering means that all of the individual letters/characters do need to be deepened and re-sharpened by hand-engraving by a skilled, time-served craftsman (in-situ) utilising the same tools and techniques as the memorial was originally engraved with, then the likely cost of this would be £6.85 per letter plus VAT.

Should you wish to consider having the other sections of the memorial attended to at the same time as the work above, then our additional charges would be as follows:-

5/ Professionally clean the red-sandstone Cross, base and 3-tiered steps memorial, including the cobble paved area surrounding the memorial and including cleaning the front wall and coping, all utilising the methods described above including all necessary access equipment etc £2,485.00 6/ PROVISIONAL – if required after cleaning and inspection of all joints: Rake out using specialist hand-tools any loose and defective mortar on the monument and paved area & then re-point by hand using a matching lime-based mortar as close to the original existing mortar as possible – please note that this figure is based on up to 10 linear meters of re-pointing being required which is estimated from the photographs provided – if after the cleaning process more extensive re-pointing work is required then we will contact you with a quotation for this additional work £ 550.00

£3,035.00 Value Added Tax @ 20% £ 607.00 £3,642.00

Continued:-

-4-

Continued:- This quote will remain valid for a period of 60 days from the above date. All work would be carried out by our own skilled and Licensed Masons and all work would comply with the NAMM (National Association of Memorial Masons) Code of Working Practice and British Standards BS8415:2018 and all current War Memorial Trust (WMT) guidelines and Conservationist Best Practices. We would be pleased to undertake of the above work on receipt of your further instructions. Should you have any queries regarding the above or if we can be of any further assistance, then please do not hesitate to contact us. Yours sincerely Simon Morgan Managing Director War Memorial Restoration Company MS-Group Ltd E. & O. E.

Porlock War Memorial - Dunster SteepCustomer Supplied Photographs - January 2020

Porlock War Memorial - Dunster SteepCustomer Supplied Photographs - January 2020

Porlock War Memorial - Dunster SteepCustomer Supplied Photographs - January 2020

Porlock War Memorial - Dunster SteepCustomer Supplied Photographs - January 2020