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Restoration

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Restoration of Caldecott Memorial 
in St. Paul's Cathedral, London, Jan 2003

Fig01, Before ConservationFor some years, the Randolph Caldecott Society has been in discussions with St. Paul's Cathedral about the condition of the Caldecott Memorial.  The Cathedral authorities had already been examining the Memorial, because in March 2000, the Conservator, Suzie Wright, produced a Report with recommendations about how it might be restored.

So, when the Society wrote formally to the Cathedral's Surveyor in December 2000, they already knew what needed to be done - the only questions were

When should it be done?  and
How is it going to be paid-for?

In February 2001, John Victor Caldecott Anthony died, aged 88.  He was Randolph's Great-Nephew, had been a founder-member of the Society and, as a Committee member, had been concerned about the condition of the Memorial since at least 1988.  On his death, a Legacy became available to pay the cost of restoring the Memorial (with 66% extra help from the Tax-man!).  This solved both the two questions above.

Restoration work started in earnest in October 2002, beginning with cleaning and removal of a coating of linseed oil and beeswax which had been applied at some time in the previous 100 years.  Suzie Wright kindly photographed parts of the Memorial before, during and after the work, and her reports and pictures are reproduced, with her permission, on the following pages.


Home Recomms2000 Cleaning2002 Results2003

PHOTOS

Fig. 1: BEFORE CONSERVATION  (on this page).
Fig. 2: DETAIL OF FACE, BEFORE CONSERVATION.
Fig. 3: BEFORE CONSERVATION.
Fig. 4: DURING CONSERVATION  (on this page). A small patch of discoloured coating has been left on the face, the smock has not been cleaned.
Fig. 5: FEET, BEFORE CONSERVATION.
Fig. 6: FEET, AFTER CLEANING, BEFORE RETOUCHING. The dirt and discoloured coating have been removed.
Fig. 7: FEET, AFTER CONSERVATION. The feet have been cleaned and retouched.
Fig. 8: RIGHT HAND, BEFORE CONSERVATION.
Fig. 9: RIGHT HAND, DURING REMOVAL OF COATING. The coating has been mostly removed from the hand.
Fig. 10: SIDE COLUMN, BEFORE CONSERVATION.
Fig. 11: SIDE COLUMN, DURING CONSERVATION. The discoloured coating has been partially removed from the stonework.
Fig. 12: SIDE COLUMN, AFTER CLEANING. The waxy build up and discoloured coating have been removed.

 Fig04, During Conservation

Fig 4: During Conservation.
 

 
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© 2000, 2004 Randolph Caldecott Society UK.  
Unless otherwise stated, material from this site may be freely copied and reproduced, but please acknowledge where you got it from!           Last modified:  08 Oct 2003