Tombs 1 to 5
Work nearing completion on tombs 1 to 5
Iron Cramps
Redundant iron cramps - what is left of them!
Church Architect and Senior Conservator
Church architect Paul Richold inspecting tomb 4 with senior conservator Corinne prior to mid term contract meeting in the churchyard
Progress meeting
Church architect Paul Richold with senior conservator Corinne and webmaster Alan at mid term contract meeting in the churchyard - Project coordinator David turns photographer!
Mirrors
Using oblique lighting from a mirror to show up inscriptions or carving in sharper relief.
Tomb 6
Base completed ready for reassembly of tomb
Tomb 6
Cleaning the amazing Philip West inscription and carvings
Tomb 6
Philip West inscription and carvings ready for reassembly
Tomb 6
Philip West inscription and carvings with reliefs emphasised by shadow
Tomb 6
North face inscriptions cleaned
Tomb 6
Tomb 6 partly assembled and 'drying' in the rain waiting for a decision on the orientation of the special Philip West inscription panel
Tomb 6
Tomb 6 partly assembled - note the 'new' foundation
Tomb 6
Philip West panel installed the right way up but facing inwards as it was on disassembly
Tomb 6
Preparing to install the top slab and complete assembly
Tomb 6
Top corner cramps set in lime mortar to ease future access to the Philip West carved panel if needed.
Tomb 6
Assembly completed - cleaning up.
Tomb 6
Clay reinforcing pins being used to strengthen filling for corner voids
Tomb 7 - Once dismantled, an earth filled wall lined grave was found under the broken sandstone foundation stone.
The earth was levelled and a lime concrete foundation was laid.
The monument was then rebuilt using hydraulic lime mortar and stanless steel cramps.
Tomb 6 - Once the tomb was dismantled it was left down for a week so that any visitors could inspect it. The painted inscription panel was lightly cleaned and any loose paint fragments consolidated.
The tomb was then rebuilt using lime mortar and stainless steel cramps.
The sandstone plinth was infilled with blocks.
It was decided to return the newly discovered inscription back as it was found - facing inside.
It has been established that Philip West was from Dyrham and died March 4th 1770. More information will be posted in the genealogy pages when available.