The Lovelace Mausoleum
Project: The Lovelace Mausoleum
Location: St Martins Churchyard, East Horsley
Architect: The John Deal Practice
Brickwork Contractor: Chris Anstey
Bricks: Ibstock & Handmades to Match
Although similar to other Lovelace buildings, in this case a half of the building is below ground level, involving the use of retaining walls which rise from a square plan containing the two tombs on either side of a central access between the entrance door and what is believed to have been an exit door, long since bricked up but originally with steps up to ground level on the outside.
This square plan is vaulted across the corners with brick arches to become an octagon, which in turn rises to a sixteen face vault in the form of a brick cone topped by a glazed timber lantern.
The brick ribs are wired to a cage of iron ribs forming the basic curved geometry of the cone, which then has laid upon it, but not bonded in to it, a half brick thick cone.
Although the iron frame for the brick vault is thought to be unique to this building, there are examples for similar frames for training fruit trees at West Dean gardens which are from a similar period, constructed in an identical scale and nature and may have been ‘’borrowed’’ from horticultural experience within the Lovelace estate for this purpose.
The flat roof with a perimeter gutter, discharged into a cast iron hopper head and rainwater pipe buried within the thickness of the wall, long since blocked by pine needles and other debris and probably incapable of serving its purpose from very early on in its existence.
The roof was completely overgrown with brambles, ivy and other miscellaneous vegetation, including a well rooted Yew tree in the north east corner of the masonry.
Most of the masonry damage arose either from vegetation rooted within the fabric or abrasion from close proximity of Yew trees, all exacerbated by an astounding level of dampness throughout.
Beneath the decayed roof covering there was a sodden lime based fill between the base of the cone and the parapet which was removed from a depth varying between six and eighteen inches before a serious assessment of the necessary works could be undertaken.
Although an iron band was discovered built into the parapet fabric, it is considered that the amount of fill between the two elements was adding a significant counterweight to resist outward thrust from the cone.
It was concluded therefore that only two opposite bays of wet debris at a time should be removed and replaced to ensure structural symmetry and this was achieved with a further lime based material incorporating hydraulic lime, sand and crushed Thermalite blocks, brought to an even surface around the octagon and over the porch and allowing for an inclined gutter around the perimeter as before, all at slightly amended levels to achieve improved falls to the position of the outlet.
A new opening to form a sump and outlet to the external face of the walls for the gutter has been formed neatly, adapting the geometry of the existing brick decoration in the form of a tile slip arch. This all ensures that water will flow away from the roof and discharge close to its former position in the north west corner but conducted to a new soakpit away from the building.
Unravelling the nature of the construction in order to make the repairs sympathetically and to maintain the building’s equilibrium, has been an interesting journey for all concerned and has provided additional insight into the working methods during this exciting period in the development of the village and its forebears.
Following completion of the new roof, the repairs and replacement of the decorated brickwork and flint proceeded to completion at the end of March 2008.
An oak frame has been placed into the reveals of the bricked up oak doorway on the north face and the provision of four oak shelves enable the display of surplus building components, an original lock and other items of interest.
A condition from one of the granting charities is that the building should be open to the public and that it should be lit, preferably with solar lighting, and this was installed with remote control early in April 2008, providing a satisfactory lighting level.
The damaged or lost applied decorated brickwork has been reinstated with new, carved from the wet clay slabs (1½’’) think to the old profiles and fired with tiles at Swallow Tiles of Cranleigh and Grayshott Pottery (drip mould); applied to the face of the structure with lime mortar by the mason to finish flush with adjacent examples and or flint surfaces.
The new rainwater outlet and hopper were formed by the mason incorporating a tile slip arch springing from the original decorated string course.
This project was awarded the Special Award at the 2008 Brick Awards. The judges felt that the close cooperation between Architect and Contractor has resulted in a spirited restoration which even involved the Contractor in making some of his own special bricks. The restoration of this building has been a labour of love on the part of all concerned.