Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings Working Group

Section of flushwork boundary wall at St Nicholas' Church, Feltwell, after repointing with hot-lime mortar by Tomas Brown — The section of wall I repointed.

In 2021 I joined one of the annual working groups of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, working on the boundary wall of St Nicholas’ Church, Feltwell, Norfolk. The group was variously composed of people from the village interested in helping maintain their local built environment, homeowners in need of training with traditional maintenance skills, or students looking to gain experience.

We repointed the flushwork wall using hot-lime mortar over the course of three days. I worked on an approximately two meter section pictured below; I participated primarily out of a desire to practically maintain something while I completed my MA dissertation. The tactility, care and community-mindedness involved in this maintenance was impactful, and I continue to pursue these qualities in my work.

Feltwell was a very welcoming community, and allowed me to ‘champ’ within the norman church itself. The first night — spent alone on my army blanket in the nave while bats flew overhead — remains one of the most memorable of my life. They were extremely gracious hosts, treating me to lunch, a tour of the other churches, and even a trip to a local cold-war era bunker owned by a fellow participant.

SPAB Working group St Nicholas' Church, Feltwell, Norfolk — The boundary wall.

Wall section covered with sheeting to slow the drying of hot-lime mortar repointing — Covering the wall to protext it from drying.

Recording photograph of the repointed flushwork wall section — Recording photograph.

St Nicholas' Church, Feltwell, Norfolk — View of St Nicholas'.

SPAB working group repointing the boundary wall from the church grounds — Working from the church.