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Cartwright Memorial
St Mary at Finchley
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When the monument to John Cartwright was dismantled in December 2008, it stood not as a proud memorial but as a puzzle of weathered stones stacked on pallets within a hoarded compound. Years earlier, the entrance to the crypt beneath the monument had been excavated and filled in again, leaving the vault below untouched and unseen. By the time the vault was re‑excavated and examined in 2008, it was clear that the monument’s story was far from over.
Client
Pcc of St Mary at Finchley
Dates
20 Aug 2018
—
6 Feb 2019
Location
London
Fabric
Stone
Uncovering the Vault Below
The vault revealed its own challenges. Sections of brickwork had dropped at both ends of the ceiling, and the structure showed signs of long‑term deterioration. At the rear of the vault, the situation was even more delicate: coffins lay directly beneath the failed brickwork, making traditional propping impossible. Every decision from this point forward required precision, respect, and ingenuity.
DBR Steps In: Rebuilding a Legacy
When DBR arrived on site, the Obelisk and its base had already been dismantled. The team began by rebuilding the existing base using lime mortar, carefully reinstating the structure while replacing a missing Portland stone side with Jordans Whitbed Portland stone to match the original as closely as possible.
The Obelisk itself, once the defining feature of the memorial, had suffered beyond repair. Its carvings, once a tribute to John Cartwright, had been eroded into near‑illegibility. With the stone severely weathered, replacement became the only viable option to restore the monument’s dignity.
Engineering Stability Where It Was Most Needed
Inside the vault, the repairs demanded both structural expertise and creative problem‑solving. To stabilise the dropped brickwork at the front of the vault, five Cintec RB16 anchors, each 1350mm long, were installed to secure the ceiling permanently.
At the rear, where coffins prevented the use of Acrow props, the team devised a different solution. Five shorter Cintec RB16 anchors, each 600mm in length, were drilled in diagonally to hold the compromised brickwork safely in place. This approach allowed the vault to be repaired without disturbing the burials below.
Working With What Time Had Left Behind
Although the project had allowed for the reuse of original brickwork, dismantling revealed that most of the bricks were too degraded to be reinstated. The team rebuilt using suitable replacements, ensuring the vault’s structural integrity while honouring the original construction as closely as possible.
The external works, including the vault entrance, perimeter walls, and concrete lintel beams, followed the details set out in Conisbee drawing SK2, guiding the careful reconstruction of the surrounding fabric.
Piece by piece, the memorial was rebuilt, its plinth repaired, tomb stabilised, and Obelisk faithfully recreated to honour John Cartwright. What began as scattered stones became a strengthened landmark, restored with respect for its past and guided by DBR’s craftsmanship, sensitivity, and problem‑solving in complex heritage conditions.
