With the scaffolding in place, it was now possible to undertake more detailed surveys of the building’s façade. A survey undertaken by Graham Abrey (Lead Consultant) showed that the brickwork condition is broadly as expected with some decline in the gauged brick window architraves and sills. The mortar joints also showed heavy decay following cleaning.

Emma Simpson and her team (Simpson Brickwork Conservation) completed a measured survey of the façade. This allowed them to create a record of how the parapet wall was built.

Once the surveys were completed, work commenced in dismantling the parapet wall. A few interesting discoveries were made during this process. There is now evidence the parapet wall is not original to the 1718 property. Emma’s theory is that the original parapet wall deteriorated to the extent that it started leaning outwards. The external gauged brick face was hacked away at some point, leaving only the inner brickwork wall in place. A new external gauged brick face was then built - the one which has just been removed. It is suspected that the parapet wall’s gauged brickwork was replaced between 1900 and 1910.