Nechells Primary Academy: Handcrafted Brick Replacement for Victorian School Building
Handcrafted Brick Replacement
“When a condition survey showed severe deterioration of brickwork at our Grade II Listed school was a danger to our 180 pupils and members of the public, Surveyors to Education (S2e) had the answer – handcrafted replacements and exceptional attention to detail.”
Timeline
June 2020: S2e are called in
Summer/autumn 2020: surveys, tendering and listed building approval
December 2020: work begins
February 2022: completion
The Issue – A Historic Challenge
Nechells Primary occupies a beautiful Victorian building with an impressive soaring tower, but brick facings on two elevations were starting to crumble, sending pieces tumbling to the ground from considerable height. Glass was also starting to slip in our sash windows.
This was an evident danger both to children beneath, and to those using a public footpath overlooked by one elevation.
S2e drew up a schedule for repairs and repointing, went out to tender on our behalf and advised on choosing experienced craftspeople to do the work.
The Solution – Bespoke Skill
S2e put up protective scaffolding to catch falling debris, achieved conservation planning approval then supervised the bespoke programme:
Lime mortar had to be specially made
Special moulds were required for replacement corbal and quoin bricks
Bricks were custom manufactured at a kiln in Kenilworth
Listed timber window sashes were replaced
New hand-carved stoneheads were installed above windows
Fibre louvres in the tower were replaced with natural slate.
The Outcome
The school looks fabulous! Drone footage shows the contrast between the initial ugly dark brickwork with crumbling mortar and our new bright building with pristine bricks and gorgeous windows. Local people love it too – and S2e even repainted the original BOYS and GIRLS signs at the request of a resident who was a pupil at Nechells 40 years ago!
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