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Palace of Westminster
Norman Porch Windows
At the entrance where centuries of footsteps had passed, the Norman Porch stood as both threshold and statement, its window carvings layered with later Gothic revival embellishment, each generation leaving its own interpretation in stone. Time, pollution, and weather had softened detail and weakened fabric, leaving delicate elements vulnerable to loss.
Conservation here required both renewal and restraint.
Client
Palace of Westminster
Location
Westminster
Grade listing
Grade I
Clearing the Surface of Time
The façade was first cleaned using a combination of specialist methods: steam cleaning to lift general soiling, Nebulous and JOS systems for more controlled surface treatment, and poultices where staining ran deeper. Each technique was selected according to the condition of the stone, ensuring dirt was removed without eroding the carved detail that gave the porch its character.
Gradually, forms that had long been obscured began to re-emerge.
Replacing What Could Not Be Saved
Where stone had deteriorated beyond repair, extensive masonry replacement and indenting were carried out using carefully matched materials. Harry Croft and Cadeby magnesian limestone, Clipsham stone, and Caen stone were introduced, each chosen for compatibility with the original fabric.
A significant amount of carved work required renewal. Gothic revival tracery, mullions, and cills were recreated to restore the window’s architectural coherence, while replacement embrasures were formed within the castellated parapets above.
Preserving the Creatures of the Corners
Not all elements required replacement. The gargoyles, weathered but largely intact, were conserved rather than recut. Micro pinning was used to stabilise fragile sections, reinforcing them discreetly from within. Shelter coating was then applied to protect the stone from further deterioration while maintaining its historic appearance.
The completed works restored unity to the Norman Porch window, with new carving complementing old and vulnerable details secured. Rather than recreate the past, the intervention stabilised this Norman‑and‑Gothic entrance, ensuring its richly worked character remains legible and welcoming for generations.
