DFC wall paintings submission

RESTORATION OF WALL PAINTINGS
SACRED HEART, CATERHAM
Submission to dfc
October 2015
The church at Caterham contains wonderful wall paintings dating from the 1880s which are
unique in the Diocese. They are the work of Joseph Pippet who was one of the Hardman
Company's most accomplished artists. Much of Pippet's work for Catholic and Anglican
churches throughout the country has been obliterated in the train of the Modern
Movement and the associated reaction against ornamentation. Caterham is fortunate in
retaining a decorative scheme in the sanctuary which is largely intact.
The decoration was applied directly to tooled Reigate stone and thus has an interestingly
irregular surface.
The sanctuary in 1994
The condition of the paintings has deteriorated with time. From early in the 20th century
water infiltration at the base of the solid stone walls and from the piscina caused flaking of
the paintwork. At the same time a deposit of oily soot from candle smoke darkened the
surfaces .
Original scheme
A panel in the front of
the high altar depicting
the Lamb of God was
the centrepiece of
Pippet's design.
The whole was
conceived as a hymn
of praise to the Lamb
featuring the Te Deum
and angels proclaiming
the "sanctus"
1957 cleaning
In 1957, parish priest Fr Scarborough set his mind to brightening up and modernising the
church. Parishioners were co-opted to scour the decorated walls with carborundum pads.
This had the effect of removing the paint from the high points of the stone and leaving dirt
within the crevices resulting in a tapestry – like appearance.
An inappropriate varnish was then applied which has darkened over the years and produced
a hazy screen over the artwork.
The "sanctus" motif below the dado – essential to the understanding of Pippet's design was
overpainted with impervious paint. This had the effect of trapping water within the wall
and hastening the deterioration.
The sanctuary in 1958
without the Lamb or
the "sanctus"
Condition today
Drainage around the apse was improved in 1994 and the solid walls have gradually dried
out, but with resulting efflorescence.
The varnished artwork is in a fragile condition
and needs urgent stabilisation to prevent further
flaking.
The Lady chapel
The Hardman Company executed a scheme for the Lady Chapel in 1892.
Pippet's scheme consisted
of a beautifully painted
lady altar with reredos
and statue between lights
depicting the Assumption
and the Coronation of Our
Lady.
The walls below the stone
string course were
stencilled with a Marian
design. Upper parts of the
chapel were painted deep
blue.
By the 1920s dampness
was causing paint to flake
from the window reveals
and end wall.
1958 renovations
in 1958 the decorative scheme was
obliterated with cementitious paint.
Subsequently dampness in the walls has
been exacerbated by a missing
rainwater pipe which should have
discharged into the hidden box gutter
above. The gutter was attended to
some years ago and the affected walls
have dried out.
The Lady chapel today
Water trapped
behind the
cementitious paint
has badly damaged
the stonework
The altarpiece
remains in good
condition, but
needs a clean.
Proposal for sanctuary
Three quotations have been obtained from conservation specialists for arresting the
deterioration of Pippet's work and returning both the Sanctuary and the Lady Chapel to
their original glory. The preferred quotation is from Hirst Conservation who have previously
conserved Pippet's work at Greenham and Barton-upon-Irwell.
Conservation of sanctuary wall paintings
Preliminaries
Hirst
quotation
15,419.00
15,419.00
Sanctuary paintings
trials and investigations
remedial works to paintings
repairs and fills
re-touching
re-instatement of design below dado
reproduction of altar panels
2,402.00
20,382.00
4,530.00
11,323.00
26,270.00
6,048.00
70,955.00
Sanctuary stonework
cleaning of windows, string course arches etc
6,481.00
6,481.00
Total
92,855.00
Conserved Pippet
wall paintings and
dado at St Mary's
Church, Greenham
Proposal for Lady Chapel
Lady chapel
investigation
stripping and repairs
re-nstatement works
clean altarpiece
1,269.00
10,419.00
9,851.00
3,170.00
24,709.00
Lady chapel stonework
cleaning windows, string course piscina etc
3,204.00
3,204.00
conservation record
documentation
1,008.00
1,008.00
28,921.00
Associated works/total
Associated works
skirting
encaustic/geometri tile skirting to sanctuary (15 lin m)
encaustic/geometric tiles to lady chapel (6 lin m)
2,500.00
1,500.00
4,000.00
decoration of ceilings
sanctuary (70 sq m with mouldings)
lady chapel (23 sq m)
1,000.00
carpentry
re-erection of carved lady chapel screen
500.00
lighting
alterations to lighting (provisional)
TOTAL ADDITIONAL WORKS
2,000.00
7,500.00
GRAND TOTAL
VAT @20%
Parish Finance
Following the recent sale of St Thomas, Whyteleafe a sum of £826,847.71 has been
transferred to the parish account. The intention is to expend some of this money on the
much-delayed conservation of the wall paintings. The parish will claim a grant against VAT
incurred (for the works and professional fees) under the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.
129,276.00
25,855.20
155,131.20