Wardour Chapel

Home	Background	The Chapel	The Dome Project	Services
Donations	Friends	Events	Getting There	Enquiries

Wardour Dome Project Update, December 2024

We have now received a comprehensive report from Philip Hughes Associates concerning the work on the Dome. The report has shown that whilst the plasterwork of the Dome is in good shape the conclusion seems to be that the cracking has been caused by displacement within the wooden beam structure which supports the plasterwork ceiling. We think it may be necessary to remove the roof in order to get inside the Dome and brace and repair the wooden framework within. During this time a temporary roof will be needed. It is also evident that some of the lead work on the roof has been corroded and therefore new lead works will be required. There will need to be minor restoration of the cracked plaster using internal scaffolding.

Extensive bat surveys have shown that the Wardour chapel roof is home to rare species of bats and as a result of this we are now only able to do the work during the summer months. The earliest start date for this large restoration project is probably April 2026.

Photograph of plaster dome over the altar marked up to show crack lines.