The following pictures have been taken during the various stages of the latest phase of restoration at St. Johns.

To view a larger image, click on the individual thumbnail.

masonary.jpg (31263 bytes)

The initial signs of movement in the church are shown by this photo of one of  the windows above the nave. The gap can be clearly seen. Taken in August 2000.
nave scaffolding.jpg (77185 bytes) In June 2000, scaffolding was erected in the nave to allow closer examination of the high level masonry,
tiles 1.jpg (84667 bytes) Taken in May 2000, this shows the Victorian tiles at the back of the church
tiles 2.jpg (72742 bytes) The same tiles have now been identified, ready for lifting.
plant 1.jpg (67111 bytes) The church has now been emptied and the mini excavator has been brought in
plant 2.jpg (76127 bytes) This was the largest piece of machinery to be used inside the church, thankfully we were not trying to hold services when this was in use. 
warden.jpg (59128 bytes) Church Warden, Ron Cooper, surveys the progress at regular intervals.
skull.jpg (26310 bytes) It was expected that ,once excavation started, we would find various bones. This was not surprising as in previous restoration work, it was known that bones were re-buried. The exact age of this skull is not known for definite.
hole.jpg (29439 bytes) One of the inspection holes by a pillar on the North side of the tower, discovered that there is water below the church.
Boring NW Buttress.jpg (73783 bytes)

Taken in September 2000, this shows the

diamond boring tool being used to cut through the North West Buttress from outside. 

 
NW Buttress for Needle beams.jpg (86861 bytes) This  shows the same buttress from a different angle in preparation for needle beams to be inserted
Diamond cutter being carried.jpg (62354 bytes) The diamond cutter has now been brought inside for work in the south nave
cutter nave.jpg (66907 bytes) The diamond cutter part way through one of the nave columns
Needle beams north wall.jpg (47988 bytes) This view shows needle beams in place under the north wall
preparation for girders.jpg (58940 bytes) We now move on to the preparation for the installation of steel framework, which is being buried in trenches
Steel frames nave columns.jpg (66516 bytes) This shows the steel framework between the nave columns. The frames were all prefabricated for exactly the correct positions.
steel frame 3.jpg (51586 bytes) This shows the workmen lifting in one of the steel girders, the temporary south door (our normal entrance) is just in view.
bricks&beams.jpg (55507 bytes) By October we are starting to see the brick foundations being prepared for the concrete sub floor
some sub floor beams.jpg (62859 bytes) More progress on the sub floor
Subfloor.jpg (45897 bytes) A firm floor to stand on, nearly there now and just to prove we were using flash, the reflective jackets certainly stand out ! Scaffolding can now be erected for high masonry work to be carried out.
   

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This page was last updated on 20/03/06