The Lamp of the North:
Fearn Abbey
Hill of Fearn, Easter Ross
Fearn Abbey, known as the Lamp of the North, is a Category A listed church dating from the early 14th century and restored in 1771, on the site of one of Scotland's oldest pre-Reformation churches. For the Congregational Board we conserved its stone fabric on the principle of minimum intervention.
The challenge
Inappropriate mortar repairs and delaminating stone were damaging the façade, and arch stones, jambs, tracery and mullions had decayed.
Our solution
We replaced arch and jamb stones and indented tracery and mullions, carried out extensive mortar repairs to the delaminating façade and rough racked exposed wall heads. Flaking stonework was consolidated by injecting pigmented lime grout, with new mortar flaunching. The aim throughout was to conserve the fabric largely as found.
Outcomes
Minimum intervention
Repairs kept as much of the medieval fabric as possible.
Stone consolidated
Pigmented lime grouting secured flaking stonework.
Openings repaired
Window surrounds, tracery and mullions renewed where beyond repair.
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