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Hildesland Allotments
Party wall
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At Hildesland Allotments, the party wall had long served as both boundary and backdrop, its flint and mortar quietly marking the edges of cultivated ground. Time, weather, and gradual movement had begun to weaken the structure, leaving cracks in the masonry and gaps where flints had fallen away. To secure its future, DBR Southern’s team of masons undertook a comprehensive programme of conservation repairs.
Client
Bcs Robertson Ltd
Dates
2020
Location
Brighton & Hove
Grade listing
Grade II
Rebinding the Masonry
The first stage of the work focused on restoring cohesion to the wall. Cracks within the masonry were carefully raked out before being repointed, allowing fresh lime mortar to homogenise the structure once more. Across the flintwork, joints were meticulously repointed using traditional lime mortar matched to the original composition, ensuring compatibility with the historic fabric while preserving the wall’s appearance.
This careful approach allowed the wall to regain strength without introducing materials that might compromise its long-term performance.
Reinstating Lost Flint
Where individual flints had been lost over time, replacements were sensitively introduced to maintain the character and continuity of the surface. Larger areas of damage were assessed and tested to determine the most appropriate repair method, ensuring that each intervention responded to the specific condition of the masonry.
Taking Down to Build Back
In places where deterioration had gone too far for simple repair, sections of the wall were carefully dismantled. Each stone was salvaged wherever possible and reused during reconstruction, following established conservation practices that prioritise retention of original materials.
By rebuilding these areas with the same fabric that had formed the wall for generations, the project maintained both structural integrity and historical authenticity.
A Wall Made Sound Again
When the works were complete, the Hildesland Allotment party wall stood much as it had before, its flintwork intact, its mortar renewed, and its structure secure. Yet beneath that familiar appearance lay the results of careful craftsmanship and thoughtful conservation.
Through these measured interventions, DBR Southern ensured that the wall could continue to define and protect the allotments for years to come, preserving not only a structure but a small piece of the landscape’s history.
