Paye were appointed Principal Contractor by the St Martin-in-the-Fields Trust for external repairs and redecoration of the Grade II* listed Vestry Hall, which overlooks St Martin-in-the Fields Church Path.

Following a detailed survey and superheated steam clean of the surface grime, we carefully removed all the identified defective masonry to expose the brickwork substrate.

The original stucco was analysed and confirmed as a roman cement mixture. To achieve modern performance and durability, a natural cement blend was used as a historically sympathetic substitute for repairs. Extensive repairs were carried out to moulded and ashlar panels. The ashlar panels were pennystruck to create false blockwork courses.

All the moulded Ionic column capitals required replacement due to corrosion of the cast iron fixings and armatures. Plaster moulds were taken of sections of the remaining capitals, from which partial casts were created. These casts were amalgamated and restored by stonemasons, who were able to create durable, historically accurate replicas. The replicas were cast in natural cement and secured using stainless-steel threaded fixings.

The masonry was decorated using natural mineral paint to allow the stucco to ‘breathe’, reducing the impact of freeze/thaw weathering.