Client Parochial Church Council of St John the
Baptist Church
Project Ecclesiastical
Location Thaxted, Essex
Services Condition survey, structural roof
strengthening, roof re-leading, wall and stonework repair
The roof of the chancel of St John the Baptist Church, part of a Grade I listed structure dating back to 1340, had been deteriorating for many years causing structural decay, the extent of which was unknown. Purcell Miller Tritton was commissioned by the Parochial Church Council of St John the Baptist Church to conduct a Condition Assessment following the offer of a substantial repair grant from English Heritage.
The condition assessment uncovered a number of problems including severe decay in the principal structural rafters and acute deterioration of the clerestory stonework and parapets.
To conserve and restore this significant structure, Purcell Miller Tritton undertook a two year programme of intricate repairs, providing creative solutions to the building’s sensitive restoration problems.
Works included structural strengthening by inserting shallow soft wood trusses into the roof braced by the existing roof’s tie beams to avoid side forces on the delicate clerestory walls.
The walls were repaired using new Clunch (a traditional building material used mainly in eastern England) and the repaired roofs were re-leaded in cast lead.
Purcell Miller Tritton also conducts quinquennial inspections (condition surveys) for this church and is involved with on-going repairs to the whole of church fabric.
