Wallace Bandstand, The Links, Nairn

A Victorian bandstand on the Links:

Wallace Bandstand

Nairn · 2006

Our role
Masonry subcontractor
Client
Morrison Construction
Value
Under £0.5m
Programme
April to August 2006
Scope
Stone indents, lime repointing, floor removal

The Wallace Bandstand stands on the Links at Nairn: a Victorian cast iron bandstand raised on a sandstone ashlar plinth, named for John Wallace, a native of the town who became a pioneering pastoralist in Australia. For Morrison Construction, during the restoration of the bandstand in 2006, we carried out the masonry repairs to the plinth and steps.

Wallace Bandstand, The Links, Nairn — photograph 1
Wallace Bandstand, The Links, Nairn — photograph 2
Wallace Bandstand, The Links, Nairn — photograph 3
Wallace Bandstand, The Links, Nairn — photograph 4
Wallace Bandstand, The Links, Nairn — photograph 5
Wallace Bandstand, The Links, Nairn — photograph 6

The challenge

The ashlar plinth had been pointed in hard cement, which was trapping moisture in the sandstone and the stone was decaying at the joints. A corner stone had fractured, other blocks were damaged, and the concrete floor inside the plinth had to come out to a depth of 100 mm without disturbing the cast iron columns bolted around its edge.

Our solution

We broke out the concrete floor by hand-held breaker and carted away the rubble, then cut out every cement joint in the plinth with hammer and chisel. The damaged stones were measured and a sample taken for matching, and replacement ashlar was cut to our cutting list by Moray Stone Cutters. The decayed blocks were cut out and the new indents built in on lime mortar, smaller losses were made good in a lime based repair mortar, and the plinth and steps were repointed throughout in a natural hydraulic lime (NHL 3.5) mortar so that the stone can breathe again beneath the repainted ironwork.

Outcomes

Stone matched

Fractured and spalled plinth blocks replaced with new sandstone indents cut to size.

Cement removed

Hard cement pointing cut out by hand and replaced with hydraulic lime.

Floor cleared

Concrete floor broken out to depth and the rubble cleared from site by hand.

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