Heritage & Conservation

Contract Details:

Cumnor Construction Ltd. carried out the role of Works Contractor and PSCS for this project.

The work was carried out to a two storey protected structure. The external fabric of the building is red brick and the contract included raking out existing cement mortar and repointing with lime mortar.

The existing roof was renewed and repaired where necessary, including replacement of defective timber soffits, and treatment and cleaning of existing timbers. Leadwork was replaced including flashings, ridges, hips and valley gutters. Repair work was also undertaken to the chimney stacks and flues. The existing sash windows were removed, repaired and refitted. Existing cast-iron gutters and down-pipes were replaced. Lime plastering was undertaken on existing brick walls. Internally, joinery works to match the existing were completed and any defective timbers were treated. Externally, drainage works were carried out by replacing existing systems and new footpath constructed.

Contract Details

Cumnor Construction Ltd carried out the role of Works Contractor and PSCS for this project.

Ballybunion Castle dates back to around 1500AD. It has been a National Monument since 1923. The castle is in a ruinous state and all that remained was a 12 metre-high east wall. It was built with black coursed masonry and has cut quern stones.

The works comprised of vegetation clearance, grouting, flaunching and fencing work, masonry rebuilding and repointing using lime mortar. In order to complete the project the entire structure required scaffolding. Due to the nature of the structure this was carried out using tube and fitting with a full design submitted along with a Temporary Works Design Certificate.

Grouting works that were carried out were done so using heritage grout. Existing pointing works were removed and subsequently repointed using heritage lime grout. The top of the walls were flaunched and sloped to keep the water off the surface.

All  of the work were supervised by the clients consulting engineers. The project were carried out at a busy tourist location with a lot of pedestrian movement in the area. Cumnor Construction Ltd  were responsible for coordinating all the works with minimum disruption to the area.

Contract Details

Cumnor Construction Ltd. carried out the role of Works Contractor and PSCS for this project.

The conservation works on this national monument was subject to regular inspection by The Office of Public Works Consultant Archaeologist

The project comprised of the renovation of the existing triumphal arch entrance and associated site work. This included the dismantling of the entire masonry entrance gateway and parts of the adjacent wing walls to facilitate the construction of a new concrete foundation founded on rock to support the rebuilt entrance gateway structure.

The entrance gateway and wing wall was rebuilt to its original form. The existing wing walls and capping stones were repointed. The existing limestone kerb outside the entrance gates was replaced. Surface treatment of the area around the entrance gates was carried out. Hard landscaping (bollards) were installed to protect the completed works.

This work was sensitive to the general public as the area inside the entrance gates is a public park with pedestrians and traffic on the roads and pathways throughout the site.

Contract Details

Cumnor Construction Ltd. carried out the role of Works Contractor and PSCS for this project.

The wall dates back to the early 17th century. The contract comprised of the conservation of this National Monument and the work was subject to regular inspection by a Conservation Engineer and Archaeologist.

The work involved stabilising two sections of wall by using tie-backs of reinforced concrete. A reinforced concrete base and column was constructed against the existing wall. Stainless steel tie bars were then used to support the existing wall, held within this new concrete pour. Stainless steel plates were fixed to these tie bars to support the wall.

The stone wall cap was reset using lime mortar and the top of the wall was flaunched. Parts of the wall were repointed as required. This involved raking out the deteriorating mortar and the installation of natural hydraulic lime. Edge kerbing, tarmac and gravel surfaces were reinstated along with installation of drainage to the rear of the wall.

The works bounded a public road and therefore a traffic management plan was designed and implemented.