Photographs ( 7 ) of repairs to Lydiard House in 2020

Repairs to Lydiard House were carried out by Beard and Sons of Swindon on behalf of Swindon Borough Council in 2020/21.

During the course of these works, wood and stone work was repaired on all sides of the building. Degraded and moisture retaining paint was stripped from the former service wing, the render repaired and treated with a breathable paint.

On the building’s 18th century classical facades, stonemason Robert Fleming carefully drilled out a large number of rusting iron cramps and pins from the damaged stonework. These had been used to help hold the limestone blocks in place. He said:

“We drill out the minimum size possible in order to remove the damaged stonework and to provide enough room go get an adequate key for the new stainless steel fixing. The final stage is to then cut and fix an indent of ashlar to plug the hole in the façade. This is bedded and pointed with a hydraulic lime mortar with Bath Stone and Silver Sand aggregate”.

Back in Beard and Son’s workshop in Swindon colleagues carved new stone sections to replace damaged areas of the main balustrade and parapet.