With the parapet wall gone work has begun on dismantling the brick cornice. Each brick course will be recorded by adding a unique reference number to each brick. Emma will then dismantle the cornice one brick course at a time. For the time being Emma and her team will retain all of the bricks to allow for further assessment in their workshop.

Emma has found evidence of an earlier brick cutting and shaping method whilst dismantling the cornice. Before the advent of wire brick saws in the nineteenth century, bricks were cut to a rough shape using brick axes (a handheld double ended chisel/axe). The roughed-out shape was then filed down using files and abrasive blocks to create a precise moulding. Emma found one of these bricks had been rejected because of a fault within the brick. This hole or air pocket probably occurred during the brick’s manufacture. Rather than waste the brick, a moulding was cut in the opposite end and the faulty moulding was placed inwards within the wall.

The dismantling process confirms the cornice is in poor condition with numerous fine fractures in the existing bricks. Black atmospheric soiling was found in the cracks which confirms long-term water and debris ingress. This is further evidence confirming that replacing the cornice was the correct decision and long overdue.