Architects flag rising damp, roof and clock‑tower work as priority repairs
Architects told the court the basement shows rising damp—moisture moving up masonry walls—that degrades lime mortar, and they recommended options from staged concrete footings to ongoing lime‑based repointing; they also noted deteriorated wood and end‑of‑life sheet‑metal components in the bell/clock tower and recommended slate roof replacement.
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Architect Alexis told the court the building shows two higher‑priority structural maintenance issues: rising damp in the basement and degraded materials in the bell/clock tower and domes. She said the rising damp likely reflects a subsurface water source and causes sand‑like mortar residue on basement floors; if not addressed the mortar degradation can become a structural concern over time.
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