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Lancing College
Master's Tower
1 / 3
Rising high above the Sussex landscape, Lancing College had long been defined by its dramatic architecture, stone, flint, and soaring forms visible for miles across the South Downs. Time, weather, and exposure had left their imprint on every elevation, from loosened flintwork to eroded stone and ageing rainwater systems. To preserve both appearance and stability, DBR Southern undertook an extensive programme of conservation and restoration across the building’s exterior.
Client
Lancing College
Dates
2024
Location
Sussex, England
Grade listing
Grade II
Stabilising the Westward Face
Work on the west elevation focused on securing the fabric where deterioration had become most evident. Loose flints were stabilised and reinstated, cracks were filled, and open joints repointed to restore cohesion. Hollow panels, areas where the outer face had separated from the backing, were injected with grout to strengthen the structure from within. Eroded stone was protected with a shelter coat, providing a breathable layer against further weathering.
Associated elements were also addressed. Leaded lights were inspected internally, the rainwater system assessed for repairs, damaged roof tiles replaced, and new lead flashings installed to ensure water was properly shed away from vulnerable junctions.
Continuing the Work Around the Building
On the north elevation, similar measures were taken to secure loose flint and preserve the building’s characteristic appearance. The south elevation required extensive intervention, including reinstatement of displaced flint, crack repairs, and repointing. Hollow areas were again grouted to restore integrity, while eroded stone received shelter coating. In places, recessed pointing was raked out and renewed, and corroded fixings were removed and made good to prevent further damage.
Repairs on the Eastern Front
The east elevation presented its own challenges. Loose flint was reinstated, cracks filled, and joints repointed to restore structural continuity. Hollow panels were consolidated with grout, and eroded stone protected. Additional works included the removal of rusting fixings, replacement of an asbestos swan neck to a downpipe, and treatment of a corroding window head through defrassing and repainting.
Within the dormer rooms, two new Portland stone mullions were installed, reinstating both strength and architectural detail to the windows.
The Tower That Watched Over All
Particular attention was given to the Masters Tower, a prominent feature of the college skyline. On the north-east chimney, three quoins and the coping beneath were replaced, while the north-west chimney required the replacement of one quoin and repairs to render on the parapet.
At the rear of the large west Masters Tower chimney, deteriorated flintwork and quoins were dismantled and rebuilt across a substantial area. Stainless steel restraints were introduced to improve structural support, ensuring that the rebuilt sections would remain secure against future movement.
When works finished, the college looked unchanged, its familiar silhouette still dominating the horizon. Yet stabilised masonry, strengthened vulnerable areas, and protected surfaces restored unity to flint and stone. Through careful conservation, DBR safeguarded its historic fabric and renewed its enduring presence above the Downs.
