London Architectural Stonemasonry completed a facade restoration of Weymouth Court at 1 Weymouth St, Marylebone, City Of Westminster, London, W1W 6DA.
This project involved a detailed survey, precise replication of architectural stones and exacting mortar repairs, ensuring the building’s structural integrity and impressive appearance. We also used specialist equipment and adaptations to scaffolding for safe, accurate lifting and placement of the large, architecturally detailed stones.
The challenge
Weymouth Court is owned by its residents and they commissioned us through a main contractor to undertake a full photo survey of the property.
They were concerned about the structural integrity of some aspects of the building.
Weymouth Court was purpose built as luxury mansion flats, opening to residents in 1907. It’s six storeys tall, with a facade designed by the architect William G. Shoebridge.
Its red-brick facade is impressive, featuring stone bays, oriels, balconies, angled turrets with cupolas, and shaped gables.
Pictured: Weymouth Court's red brick and stone facade
Our solution
Once the scaffolding was installed and we could undertake the site survey it became apparent that there were a number of large cornice, curved coping and pitched springer stones that were severely cracked and required replacement. These stones were moulded with intricate architectural details.
We were then asked to restore the facade.
To replicate the moulded details we undertook very detailed surveying, drawing and then plotting into CAD drawings.
To create the replacement pieces, we ordered the necessary stone from the quarry, used our CAD drawings and our specialist printer to create templates, then cut and carved the stone in our workshop. We replicated the stones working to a tolerance of 2mm of the original.
Our replacement stones were very large. Lifting them into place required us to use specialist equipment and make extensive adaptations to the scaffolding.
Our on site team expertly removed the failing coping, cornice and springer stones and then lifted the new stones up and into position perfectly.
We also replaced many York stone window sills on the rear of the building. We had to cut out many failed sections of stonework and indent them with new stone to replicate how the original architectural details would have appeared when the building was first constructed.
This project also required many mortar repairs and repointing of the stonework and brickwork. At the top of the building we replaced the chimney pots in the chimney stacks, including removing and reinstalling the flaunching.
Pictured: A large stone for the facade being carved in our workshop
Pictured: Our team lifting stone in central London
Pictured: Placing a stone element in the facade
Results
The main contractor and the residents of the building are very happy with the results of the works.
They know that they will not have to undertake any exterior facade cosmetic and structural works for decades to come.
- Ensured the structural integrity of Weymouth Court’s facade by replacing previously damaged stone components.
- Restored the building’s appearance by replacing severely cracked architectural stones with precisely replicated pieces.
More projects
The full exterior restoration of the historic Duchy of Cornwall office at 10 Buckingham Gate, SW1E.
London Architectural Stonemasonry restored the full facade of a Grade II-listed Victorian industrial building in SE1, completing stone repairs, brick repointing, and sash window conservation in just 10 weeks.
External refurbishment of a commercial building at 63 Pall Mall, Westminster, SW1Y. Full Portland stone repairs, structural steel treatment and facade cleaning.
Shopfront facade restoration, Stamford Hill, London N16. We stabilised bay windows, replaced corroded steels and restored stonework on a busy street for Hamways Ltd.
