TAKING ON HISTORY AT FARNHAM CASTLE - Preservation not destruction

Richard Comley FIDE, and his company, Comley Demolition, are taking on the task of removing the 168 tonne concrete slab that covers the historic well on the Keep plateau of the historic Farnham Castle in Surrey.

Thanks to a grant of over £700,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, improvements can now be carried out on the Castle's Keep which dates from the twelfth century, to turn it into one of the top attractions in the South.

Richard, himself a Farnham resident says: "We are delighted to be involved in this project which we believe will enhance the Castle as a tourist attraction, which in turn will bring more tourists into this architecturally fascinating town."

"I understand we were chosen as the preferred contractor as our plan of works caused the least disturbance to the Castle's administration and visitors and does not involve any unsightly scaffolding."

The work began on 9th November and is expected to run for four weeks. They will deconstruct the 300 mm thick slab using 360º mini excavators equipped with specialist demolition attachments and arisings will be loaded into rubble bags and craned off the plateau.

The demolition works are part of the greater restoration scheme which will reunite the Bishops Palace and the Keep under one management team. The Keep has been cared for by English Heritage since 1984 and is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The 225 sq metre reinforced concrete cap itself, which was placed in the 1950's, is possibly adhered to the ancient stonework of the Keep meaning Comley's skilled operatives will exercise extreme care whilst removing the cap, under the watchful eye of the Castle's own archaeologist.

Richard continues: "We will have to take great care when removing the concrete that may be adhered to ancient monument. I have every confidence that we will be able to separate the concrete without causing undue damage to the keep."

After the work has been completed, the concrete will be replaced with grass and a new stairway and viewing platform will enhance the illuminated well, which will be covered by a 'traditional oak cupola.'
One of the technical difficulties that Richard's team will have to overcome will be installing a safety deck to the underside of the cap to allow the safe removal. This will involve constructing both a hanging scaffold from the viewing gallery to the bottom of the well, which will then in turn be replaced by a birdcage scaffold, constructed from the bottom up.

The scaffold constructed in the well by Comley Demolition will be left in place to allow further work to be carried out over the well safely by other operatives. Work on the scaffold is expected to be completed this week.

The restoration programme of the castle is expected to finish in Spring 2010.

For more information please contact Jennifer Comley on 07881 845817 or email jjcomley@hotmail.co.uk.
Richard may be contacted at Comley Demolition on 01265 702178 or through the website at www.comleydemo.co.uk.