Restoration work at Westminster Abbey, London

1954 - Westminster Abbey restoration: details were released today of the work that has been started and of future plans for the restoration of Westminster Abbey, following the successful appeal for funds for that purpose during Coronation year. During the past few weeks elaborate scaffolding has been erected 100 feet up on the South Side of the Nave and on the West Side of the South Transept. For the first time in the history of the Abbey an electric hoist has been installed for raising and lowering stone. Masons are demolishing the two massive parapets at the roof level, involving the removal of hundreds of tons of stone. These two parapets on the south of the Nave (over 200ft long) and the west transept were rapidly becoming dangerous. The parapet of the south transept had fractured; as a result a large portion of it leant inwards and has only been held by wooden shores from collapsing and crashing on the roof. In the case of both parapets the stone has crumbled and perished, large pieces falling away. The only solution is to renew the whole of the stonework. Photo shows stonemason William Andrews at work removing the decayed stonework from the south side of the Nave

Restrictions Only for United Kingdom

Appeal Becoming Collapsing Crashing Crumbled Decayed Demolishing Details Elaborate Erected Fractured Funds Hoist Hundreds Installed Involving Inwards Leant Level Lowering Masons Massive Parapet Parapets Perished Portion Purpose Raising Rapidly Removal Removing Renew Result Scaffolding Shores Solution Stonemason Stonework Tons Transept

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