Sir Robert Peel Monument, Newmonthill Cemetery | Restoration Case Study

Our role: Main contractor
Client: Angus Council
Architect: Angus Council Communities (Property)
Value: Under £0.5m
Programme: April to July 2016 (15 weeks)
Scope: Stone conservation, indents, cramps, repointing, inscription panel

The Peel Monument was raised in 1851 by the people of Forfar in memory of Sir Robert Peel and his part in the repeal of the Corn Laws. Designed by James Maclaren, it is a cruciform temple with a pedimented roof on eight Corinthian columns, built in blonde sandstone. For Angus Council we carried out a full programme of stone conservation to stabilise the structure.

Before & after

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

Sir Robert Peel Monument after restoration by LTM Group

Sir Robert Peel Monument before restoration

BeforeAfter

The challenge

Rusting iron cramps had displaced stonework, a lintel frieze on the south pediment was cracked beyond repair with too little seating to carry its overhang, and the carved inscription panel, cut with the grain running vertically, was delaminating across its whole face. All of this had to be tackled from a free-standing scaffold with no fixings into the monument, in a working cemetery.

Our solution

We cleaned the stone with bristle brushes, water and biocide, raked out and repointed in Roundtower NHL 5 lime mortar, and replaced four stones, including the dentil cornice and architrave, in matched Witton Fell sandstone with deeper seating where needed. Iron fixings were swapped for stainless steel, ten new cramps were resin fixed, cracked stones were pinned with stainless rod and a broken acanthus leaf was re-fixed. Large voids were built up in pigmented Lithomex. The inscription panel was consolidated by injecting Paraloid B72 behind the delaminations, sealing the fissures with a Paraloid and sand mortar and toning the repairs with pigmented limewash.

Outcomes

Structure stabilised

Displaced and cracked stones made good, with iron fixings replaced in stainless steel.

Inscription saved

The delaminating carved panel consolidated in place rather than replaced.

Matched stone

Replacement stones cut in Witton Fell buff sandstone to match the original fabric.

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Sir Robert Peel Monument