Insall’s Palace of Westminster work wins two accolades at the Stone Federation’s Natural Stone Awards

  • | Donald Insall Associates

We are pleased to announce that the Palace of Westminster Courtyards Conservation project has won two accolades at this year’s Natural Stone Awards: firstly, a commendation for our work on repairing and redecorating the carvings in the Norman Porch, and secondly, a win for the work on cleaning, repairing and conserving the stonework at the Chancellors’ and State Officers’ Courts.

The Norman Porch is located at the base of the Victoria Tower, immediately after the grand Sovereign Entrance– the entrance used by the queen at the State Opening of Parliament. The work here included repair of Caen stone carving, combining new and salvaged masonry which will be repainted and gilded.

The work on Chancellors Court, built between 1840 and 1857 and sitting to the north of the Norman Porch, included cleaning 150 years of accumulated pollution and decay from the external masonry. Repairs to the stonework followed– using Cadeby magnesian limestone –in order to enhance the lifespan and improve the appearance of this globally significant UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We have been commended at these awards ten times, most recently with a win for our project on the Wimpole Gothic Tower, while we were also handed a commendation for both the Korean War Memorial and Knebworth House Estate that year.

The awards were presented at a ceremony in London, which took place on Friday 7th December.