Oxford-based contractor Beard is replacing 28 columns, which are more than 400 years old, as part of a refurbishment of a Grade I-listed building.
Beard started work last July at St John’s College, Oxford, on the £10m project to refurbish the 16th century Old Library and 17th century Laudian Library extension, located in the Canterbury Quadrangle.
The columns are a central part of the historic Quadrangle and had been starting to fail structurally, ruling out a cosmetic repair.
The quarry that provided the Bletchingdon marble for the original columns has long since closed.
But Beard worked with stonemasonry firm Szerelmey and Wright & Wright architects to identify a carboniferous limestone, Swaledale fossil, as a replacement. As the stone is not commonly used in Oxford, the construction team had to seek approval from Oxford City Planning Department and Historic England.
The columns are particularly important as Canterbury Quadrangle is one of the few remaining examples in the UK of the high baroque architectural style, dating to the early 17th century.
Jonathan Brock, Beard project manager at St John’s, said: “It is a massive honour to be entrusted to work on a building of such huge historical and cultural significance. As the columns are vital for the structure, it was crucial we found the perfect stone.
“By working with the expert team at Szerelmey and the team at St John’s College, we’ve found the ideal replacement that will ensure the aesthetic of the College remains, while ensuring it is structurally sound.
“The building has to be temporarily propped while the columns are removed and despite all the planning we’ve done it is still a nerve-racking experience to replace the columns.”
Zoe Hancock, principal bursar of St John’s College, said: “The replacement of the columns is a significant step in the refurbishment of this exceptionally historic building and to ensure it remains safe and sound for future generations.”
The final phase of work is expected to be finished by early 2023 and consists of refurbishment of the College’s existing Laudian Library and Old Library, with remodelling of an area known as the Paddy Room under the Old Library.
