Repair work set to begin on Gateway
MONUMENT HAS CENTURIES OF WEAR AND TEAR
RESTORATION work is to take place on one of Leicester’s most important historic buildings.
Remedial work will take place on the 15th century Magazine Gateway, including repointing and repairs to stonework, drainage and the removal of vegetation and accumulated bird droppings.
It will also give experts the chance to investigate the condition of the grade I-listed structure, a Scheduled Monument, and plan for any further repair work that might be needed.
Work will begin on Monday and continue until March.
To install scaffolding, there will be a closure of one lane of Oxford Street northbound, from 9pm on Wednesday to 6am on Thursday.
Councillor Adam Clarke, deputy mayor for environment and transportation, is also the city’s heritage champion.
He said: “The Magazine Gateway is one of the finest medieval buildings in Leicester but, unfortunately, hundreds of years of withstanding the weather, pollution and general wear and tear mean that we need to carry out this restoration.
“We know some parts of it need stonework being repaired or replaced, while in other areas it might simply need repointing using mortar that is similar to that used originally.
“It also gives us the chance to get up close and investigate it further while that work is under way, to determine what other remedial work might be needed.
“It is painstaking work, but is necessary to ensure historic landmarks like this can be enjoyed by future generations.”
The Magazine dates from about 1400 and was originally the main gateway into a large walled religisous precinct, The Newarke.
Over the years, the building has served as accommodation, a prison, a military building, gunpowder store and regimental museum.
It is now only opened to the public on special occasions organised by Leicester Museum Service.
The remedial work is being carried out in conjunction with Historic England, which last year produced a detailed condition report on the building, and De Montfort University, for whose campus the Magazine Gateway forms a boundary.