St Thomas' Chapel

Cleaning and Conservation

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At St Thomas’s, the work unfolded quietly and out of hours. Access scaffolding was carefully erected within the chapel, brought through public corridors at night to protect both the building and its daily use. Each movement was planned to leave no trace by morning.

Client

Guys & St Thomas Hospital Trust

Location

London

Grade listing

Grade II

Fabric

Marble

Terracotta

Copper

Renewing the Fabric

Once access was established, the historic fabric was gently cleaned and conserved. Masonry, plaster, and joinery surfaces were redecorated and re-gilded, restoring depth, colour, and detail while respecting the age and character of the chapel.

Care for the Memorials

DBR Conservation undertook the careful cleaning and conservation of the terracotta triptych and marble memorials, alongside the Chancel stonework. Gilded elements received specialist attention, returned to clarity without losing the softness earned through time.

Light, Safety, and Continuity

Alongside conservation works, extensive mechanical and electrical interventions were introduced. A new floodlighting scheme, fire detection systems, and emergency lighting were installed, ensuring the chapel remained both safe and sensitively lit—its atmosphere preserved, its future secured.