About

External works

• • Stonemasons cleaned and repaired the Portland Stone
  • Specialist carpenters removed, repaired and repainted each of the 160 sash windows
  • Thousands of Georgian roof slates were stripped and re-laid together with 400 metres of new lead
  • The face of the clock has been restored and repainted
  • The ornate 18th-century railings have been repaired, conserved and redecorated

Internal works

• The first phase of works was carried out from a ‘birdcage’ scaffolding, supported by six steel struts extending through the windows and fixed to the external scaffolding, leaving the oak floor of the Hall unencumbered and allowing public access for 6 months during the project.
• The magnificent plaster ceiling in the Great Hall was then repaired, repainted and (where needed) re-gilded.
• The donor panels lining the walls of the Great Hall were been cleaned and repaired.
• The historic woodwork and floor has been repaired, recoloured and polished.
• The beautiful, stained glass Charter Window was removed, restored, conserved and re-installed.
• Invisible to view miles of new cabling and pipework has been installed beneath the Great Hall floor.
• A new lighting system has been discretely installed
• William Hogarth’s monumental staircase paintings were expertly conserved (by a team led by our specialists Stephen Paine and Sophie Stewart)
• A new lighting system was installed to properly light the paintings for the first time.
• Ceiling and wall surfaces were beautifully repaired and redecorated
• Our joinery team (and French polishers) carried out repairs to the staircase itself

Engagement and interpretation

• Our engagement team, supported by our wonderful volunteers, delivered an ambitious heritage and health activity programme for hospital staff, patients and the public.
• We developed our Interpretation – the information made available to visitors to help them better understand and enjoy Barts North Wing and its rich history – including a multimedia guide and physical materials