WEMMA
West of England Metals and Materials Association
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AGM and Talk — Rediscovering the lost art of renovation and conservation

Professor Geoffrey Allen, University of Bristol

Venue: BAWA Filton

Wednesday May 19, 2010 at 19:30

When the Roman Empire fell the ‘secret’ of hydraulic cement disappeared with it. Cements continued to be used but their quality depended on the chemistry of the limestone in the local quarry. Following experiments on hydraulic limes capable of resisting the action of seawater, Smeaton constructed the highly successful Eddystone Lighthouse. In 1845, Johnson’s experiments with higher calcining temperatures provided the basis for Portland Cements. Increasingly though in recent years it has become recognised that for the restoration and conservation of pre- Victorian buildings, hydraulic limes must be used to match the properties of the original construction. This lecture describes the way in which these materials are produced and their mode of application in modern construction and conservation with examples of the restoration of the mosaics of San Marco in Venice.

The talk will be followed by a discussion and buffet.

Members and non-members are welcome.

Bingham Canyon Mine Copper mine
Eddystone Lighthouse Colosseum Rome


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