The North Transept Window
Major problems have been discovered in the stone work supporting
the stained glass window in the north transept.
Major deterioration in one of the mullions had been discovered in 2014.
This crack in the stone mullion was discovered early in 2014.
In May of this year
the cracked pieces of masonry became detached
and fell to the floor, seriously compromising
the strength of the mullion.
The exterior of the tracery shows that much of the sandstone masonry is crumbling
away.
The patchwork of earlier attempts to solve the problem can be seen.
The entire
window is now in serious danger of collapse.
This close-
Here we can see part of the problem.
The individual sections of the tracery were pinioned
together with iron rods.
Over the years, as the sandstone deteriorated, water caused
the iron to rust.
The rusting iron expanded and shattered the surrounding sandstone.
This
has seriously compromised the integrity of the tracery
and of the window as a whole.
Another “patchwork” solution would only last a few years.
It has been decided to go ahead with a more long term solution.
The eroded masonry, including the two mullions, will be cut out and replaced
and the
entire window will be repointed.
This work will not be completed until late September,
at the earliest.
The extent of the damage to the masonry becomes more apparent after the glass has
been removed.
This photo from inside the church shows just how fragile the whole structure
really is.