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Princes Wharf Repairs

Sandstone buildings directly beneath the Tyne Bridge

Essential structural repair works to the facades of a series of 4 and 5 story stone buildings which make up Princes Wharf have begun this month. Built in the 1860’s, Princes Wharf occupies a prominent three sided position surrounding a central courtyard on Queens Street, Akenside Hill and Kings Street, directly below the Tyne Bridge. The buildings, which are owned by Home Group, comprise a mix of residential, commercial and office accommodation.

The structures were originally constructed of sandstone external walls with classical detailing of deep cornices, friezes, dentils, columns and pilasters. This complex masonry embellishment is particularly marked to the Queen Street elevation whilst those to Akenside and Queen Street are less ornate.

The contract awarded by Construction Consultants RNJ Partnership involves careful inspection and repair of the stone detailing with re-pointing of open mortar joints using specialist lime based mortar compounds. New lead cappings will be installed as ‘future-proof’ preventative maintenance and complete the redecoration of external joinery. We will also be repairing and rebuilding stone ballustrading which has become unstable due to corrosion of the old iron cramps which have held the decorative stonework in place for 150 years.

Posted on 2 September 2009 by Jim Croft and filed under .

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