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St Michael's Abbey
Cleaning and Stonework
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Work within the Abbey unfolded in stillness, carried out across two carefully planned phases. Both were guided by the same intent: to renew the stonework and decorative architectural surfaces of the Abbey and its Sacristy without disturbing the calm authority of the space itself.
Client
Monastery of St. Michael’s Abbey
Dates
January 2022
—
January 2023
Location
Hampshire
Grade listing
Grade I
Fabric
Marble
The First Touch
The initial phase focused on the conservation cleaning of the masonry. This was approached methodically, using Remmers Arte Mundit liquid latex paste applied in controlled, measured sections. Each area was treated in sequence, allowing the work to progress evenly and preventing tide lines or staining from forming across adjacent surfaces.
Once the latex had dried, it was gently removed by mechanical means, lifting accumulated residues and staining from the historic stone beneath. The process revealed the masonry’s original tone and texture without abrasion or harm, restoring clarity while preserving age.
Colour, Carefully Reawakened
Decorative painted surfaces were refreshed with equal restraint. Using Vulpex detergent and soft, natural brushes, conservators worked slowly across the surfaces, ensuring that pigments and brushwork remained intact. The aim was not to erase time, but to allow the original artistry to speak more clearly once again.
Light on Gold
Gilded elements received specialist attention. A bespoke solution known as V&A Mix, combining white spirit, water, and symperonic non-ionic detergent was prepared and applied with care. This delicate treatment restored depth, lustre, and brilliance to gilded details, bringing light back to features that had dulled with age.
Stone, Repaired from Within
Alongside cleaning, masonry repairs and re-pointing were undertaken within the Abbey interior. These interventions were subtle and precise, strengthening the fabric while remaining visually discreet. Memorials, altars, and fonts were lightly cleaned by hand, each one treated as an individual object rather than a surface.
The work balanced technical precision with respect for the Abbey’s architectural and historical significance. Nothing was rushed or overstated. Once finished, the Abbey appeared unchanged yet calmer and quietly renewed, its surfaces carrying their long history with restored dignity.
