Vinery Greenhouse Conservation Pilot Project III: Brick, Metal and Wood Components

One of the three brick types identified

One of the challenges of active conservation work is that lay persons often want to see the finished project pristine, shiny and like new. That is not the case with conservation. The object is to preserve and one of the things that we set out to do at the outset of the pilot project was to salvage as much reusable material from the original Vinery as plausible for reuse. As the contractors from Faber Solariums began taking the greenhouse apart, all salvaged material was returned to the shop for review and assessment.

Bricks
As the disassembly progressed approx. +/- 300 bricks from the Vinery were deemed salvageable. While cleaning and assessing the condition of the bricks, 3 different types, of similar colour and texture, were identified during the process.

ERA Architects, Parkwood, and contractors met to discuss the selection of the replacement bricks, along with the use of the reclaimed bricks in the Vinery for preservation, as well as interpretive purposes

Experimenting with lime wash removal

Some experimental cleaning of the painted masonry surfaces has been underway over the last little while. This is because we have identified what looks to be a lime wash on some of the surfaces. Experimentation is underway because we are wary of physically damaging masonry with aggressive chemical or heavy friction applications to remove. In the past, Parkwood NHS has experienced the negative attributes of abrasive paint removal processes on historic surfaces, and we are carefully watching our intervention with regards to the Vinery project.

Metals
For the most part, the metals were in stable condition, showing wear and tear in the expected areas. For example the sills, and gutter drains were weak or broken between the bolt holes and the ends. In the case of the sills, they will be used, with the ends that are damaged being repaired with a 4mm sill plate used to match the historic profile of the original. As a modern intervention, during the installation, a non visible application of blueskin™ (rubberised asphalt compound membrane) will be added between the sill and the wall.
Items like sill brackets, eaves plates, collar ties, rafter end ties were in decent condition, with some  broken or others missing completely, etc. Reclaimed items from other sites, all approved, some even being labelled, Lord& Burnham, will be used in the rebuild.

While cleaning the flashing lips, a combination of copper, aluminium and galvanised ones were salvaged. During the cleaning process, we were able to identify a few of the steel elements that had been "blued" historically, as a rust prevention measure. These identified "blued" pieces were not blasted to preserve the technique, and a section of the bluing will be visible for interpretive content of the finished Vinery.

Gable rafter curve (Upper)

Woods
The wooden components have been deemed quite stable. In some areas, the historic pieces will have a consolidant applied, to fill holes, etc., but the anticipated rot, and areas of loss etc. associated with the age and condition of the Vinery has not been a concern.
Stay tuned as the process of rebuilding the Vinery is  documented and although not shiny and new, the initial work and foundation wall construction is looking  stunning.

Thank you to Sydney Martin E.R.A. Architects Inc. for the use of her photography.