Minster’s new roof revealed in all its glory
REPLACED LEAD WEIGHS 16 TONNES
SECTIONS of Beverley Minster’s newlook roof have been revealed for the first time.
The region’s biggest church is undergoing long-term repairs thanks to a £406,700 National Heritage Lottery Fund grant.
It follows a survey carried out five years ago which discovered no fewer than 60 leaks in just one part of the roof together with water-logged medieval timbers and rot caused by fungal infection.
The repairs have involved re-leading the roof of the minster’s Lesser South Transept, which has been cloaked in scaffolding and weather-proof sheeting since the spring.
A four-strong team of contractors spent ten weeks not only working at height but also observing Covid19 social distancing rules to re-lead the roof, repair timbers, conserve crumbling stonework and improve lead gutters.
The amount of new lead used in the repairs weighed a total of 16 tonnes – more than the weight of a double decker bus.
The previous lead is thought to have been more than 200 years old.
When it was stripped off, it was melted down and then reformed back into lead bays for reuse on the project.
Now, with most of the work completed, some of the sheeting has been removed to reveal parts of the new-look roof.
Reverend Canon Jonathan Baker, vicar of Beverley Minster, said; “Caring for the fabric of this important historic building is a big responsibility and so we are delighted to see the completion of the restoration work to the Lesser South Transept’s roof.
“We are thrilled to have received this support thanks to National Lottery players and are confident the project will support people to appreciate the building’s heritage and raise awareness of the minster’s role in sanctuary both in past and present times.”
David Renwick, Northern director of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “It’s great to see that the work to restore the fabric of Beverley Minster to its former glory is moving at a pace.
“Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, this heritage treasure of the North now boasts a wonderful new roof and can continue sharing the historic and nationally significant story of providing a right of sanctuary with its community and beyond.”
The building work by specialist firm Messenger Construction is expected to be completed in January.
However, it is just the first phase of an ambitious £10m long-term programme of maintenance work at the landmark which will eventually see all of the high-level roofs replaced over the next decade.