Conservation project begins to repair cracks at Stonehenge
4,500 years of erosion has taken its toll
Last updated 14th Sep 2021
A conservation project, billed as one of the 'most significant" in over 60 years, begins at Stonehenge today to protect the famous monument.
Erosion and repairs in the 1950s have taken their toll on the lintels, the elevated stones that make Stonehenge so iconic.
Detailed laser scans of every stone at Stonehenge along with a recent engineers report, revealed the extent of the damage.
Cracks will be repaired whilst hard concrete used for repairs more than half a century ago will be removed and replaced with more breathable lime mortar.
Scaffolding will be erected to enable conservators to reach the top stones.
Heather Sebire, English Heritage Senior Curator for Stonehenge, explains;
“Stonehenge is unique among stone circles by virtue of its lintels and the special joints used to secure the lintels in place. Four and a half thousand years of being buffeted by wind and rain has created cracks and holes in the surface of the stone, and this vital work will protect the features which make Stonehenge so distinctive. Thanks to the sophisticated laser scan technology and our regular checks and monitoring, the stones will now be able to stand the test of time – and Salisbury Plain weather – for many more years!
The conservation work will be carried out by Strachey Conservation, specialist conservators contracted by English Heritage, and will take up to two weeks.
Visitors to the site will be able to see the work in action.
TOUCHING GESTURE TO MARK PROJECT
To mark the significance of the work English Heritage has invited Richard Woodman-Bailey who was eight years old when the last major restorations took place.
His father was chief architect and the schoolboy hid a 1958 coin beneath one of the giant sarsens.
Now 71 he'll return to the stones to place a special commemorative coin struck at the Royal Mint beneath a newly repaired lintel.
Rebecca Morgan, Director of Collector Services at The Royal Mint comments:
“We were delighted to invite Richard to The Royal Mint to strike his own coin that will take its place in history. In honour of the ancient site, we struck a 2021 dated £2 silver coin featuring Britannia. This symbol of Britain first appeared on UK coins 2000 years ago, and has been carried by visitors to Stonehenge for centuries. This is the joy of collecting coins; they tell a story that connects generations.”