St Vincent de Paul

Client: LACE

Location: Liverpool

Budget: £500,000 to date

Status: Ongoing

The Pugin designed grade II*-listed St Vincent de Paul RC Church is located close to the water front on the river Mersey and the exposure to sea air over 150 years had caused major corrosion to ironwork embedded within the masonry.  Sitting high above the west end gable, the remarkable highly decorative Bellcote which forms a prominent feature on the river front was seriously affected.  All of the iron bolts which held together the exposed timber and lead clad structure were badly corroded and worryingly the integrity of the two iron rods that anchored the 14 metre high structure down to the church were in doubt.  Investigations revealed these anchor rods to be corroded and the supporting masonry cracked through expansion.  Both the rods and the masonry required replacement; an extremely difficult prospect.

The project to restore the Bellcote involved complex temporary works, the complete stripping of the lead covering and removal of the cast iron decorative panels.  The Honduras mahogany frame was found to be in almost perfect order and was stained after fitting new stainless steel bolts and detailed reconstruction of the highly elaborate lead work.

The removal and reinstatement of the supporting stone work, the deep drilling of new stainless steel rods and the introduction of an entirely new stainless steel support framework were carried out over a six-month period involving very complex and detailed techniques of repair.

A documentary of the Phase One works produced by BayTV is available to watch using the following link: https://www.baytvliverpool.com/vod/?vid=LBV51c42d0b1fbc9

FPL are currently on site with the Second Phase of works repairing the West Window and carrying out urgent repairs to the roof.

This is one of many church architecture projects in the North West that FPL are currently engaged in.

• Categories: Churches, Listed Buildings and Conservation