King’s College Chapel and Crown, Old Aberdeen | Restoration Case Study

Our role: Principal Contractor
Client: University of Aberdeen
Architect: Acanthus Architects
Awards: Commended, Natural Stone Awards 2006; Commended, RICS Scotland Awards 2009 (Building Conservation); Aberdeen Society of Architects Design Awards 2010

King’s College Chapel, with an inscription dated 1504, is one of the oldest buildings in Aberdeen and is topped by its famous Imperial Crown. Over a five-year programme for the University of Aberdeen, we conserved the chapel and library, culminating in the repair and reinstatement of the crown itself. The work was commended at the Natural Stone Awards 2006 and at the RICS Scotland Awards 2009, and recognised at the Aberdeen Society of Architects Design Awards 2010.

Before & after

Drag across the image to compare the building before our work and after completion.

King’s College Chapel and Crown after restoration by LTM Group

King’s College Chapel and Crown before restoration

BeforeAfter

The challenge

The intricate stonework and the scale of the building were the main challenges. Our masons surveyed every element and produced a schedule of repairs falling into three categories: structural, water damage and aesthetic. Replacement work ranged from plain masonry blocks to decorative finials, crockets and quatrefoil panels.

Our solution

We followed the principle of minimum intervention, replacing only stones that could not be repaired. Replacement stone was cut, dressed and carved in a banker shop we set up on site, and fixed using traditional methods: compatible sandstone, gauged hot lime and molten lead poured into joints to form dog cramps. Elsewhere we built up surfaces with lime mortar and stainless steel armatures, or used micro-pinning and mortar flaunching to retain as much original fabric as possible. The Imperial Crown was repaired and reinstated with stainless steel dog cramps and dowels.

Outcomes

The Crown restored

The Imperial Crown was repaired and reinstated using traditional lead-run dog cramps and dowels.

Fabric retained

Repairs favoured conservation over replacement, keeping as much of the 16th-century stonework as possible.

Recognised nationally

Commended at the Natural Stone Awards 2006 and in the Building Conservation category at the RICS Scotland Awards 2009, and recognised at the Aberdeen Society of Architects Design Awards 2010.

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