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Lambeth Palace
Blore Roof & Stonework Project
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On the south bank of the River Thames in North Lambeth stood Lambeth Palace, a place whose history stretched back nearly eight hundred years. Originally known as the Manor of Lambeth, the site had long served as the London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, linking it closely to the story of the Church of England and the wider life of the nation.
Over centuries the palace complex had grown, adapted, and endured, its roofs, walls, and screens quietly absorbing the wear of weather and time.
Client
The Church Commissioners
Location
London
Grade listing
Grade I
Fabric
Brick
Stone
Architects
Ablett Architects
Preparing to Work Above the Palace
Before repairs could begin, a carefully designed scaffolding system was erected around the affected areas. Temporary roofs were introduced to protect vulnerable sections of the building while works were underway, ensuring that the historic fabric beneath remained sheltered from the elements during the conservation process.
These structures allowed craftsmen to reach the palace’s upper levels safely while maintaining the integrity of the surrounding architecture.
Renewing the Roofscape
A major part of the project focused on the palace roofs. Traditional lead and slate coverings were repaired or replaced where deterioration had occurred, restoring the protective envelope that shields the historic interiors below. Each intervention followed established conservation methods, ensuring that the renewed roofscape remained faithful to the building’s long-established character.
Repairing Stone and Parapet
Attention then turned to the masonry itself. Stone parapets were rebuilt where necessary, while damaged stonework was replaced or repaired using indent techniques that allowed new stone to integrate with the original fabric. Repointing was carried out across affected areas, strengthening joints and helping the walls resist further weathering.
These works ensured that both the structural performance and visual continuity of the palace walls were preserved.
The Garden Screen Wall
Among the areas requiring attention was the Garden Screen Wall, the largest zone of stonework repair within the project. Here, careful conservation addressed deterioration while maintaining the architectural rhythm of the wall within the palace grounds.
Additional repairs were undertaken at three other locations across the complex, each requiring the same measured approach to conservation.
When the scaffolding came down, Lambeth Palace looked unchanged, its towers and walls still rising quietly above the Thames. Yet behind that familiar silhouette lay renewed roofs, strengthened masonry, and carefully restored stonework. These interventions secure the palace’s historic fabric for the future, ensuring it can continue serving the Archbishop of Canterbury and its place in the life of the Church and the city.
