Restoration & Conservation > Arnos Vale Cemetery, Bristol

Project Report

ARNOS VALE CEMETERY, BRISTOL

Architect: Bristol City Council
Client: Purcell Miller Tritton
Main Contractor: Ken Biggs Contractors Ltd
Requirements 

Our brief was to fully restore the 55 acre Victorian cemetery from a state of neglect to one that provides a contemporary facility for the community to enjoy whilst reviving the cemetery buildings, tombs and monuments. 

A great emphasis needed to be placed on the restoration and conservation of the existing structures which were in an extremely poor condition alongside consideration being given to the ecological importance of the site, which consists of many wildlife habitats and extensive variety of species.  All works were required to be undertaken whilst the Cemetery was still open to the public so careful programming was necessary to ensure minimal inconvenience to visitors.

Construction

The contract commenced with ground stabilisation works being undertaken throughout the whole site including repair and rebuilding of retaining structures.  Then followed the installation of a new infrastructure and restoration of the cast iron entrance gates and re-building of adjacent walls and piers.

The next phase was the restoration of the Anglican Chapel.  Works consisted of repairs to the roof structure and coverings, rebuilding the cupola and repairs to external stonework.

Internally the ornate plaster ceiling and panelling was restored, existing floor tiling was repaired and new oak floors laid.  All services were replaced and new heating and lighting systems installed.  The Chapel was then decorated throughout using distempers and lime washes.

Similar works were then undertaken to the Non Conformist Chapel to restore the building to its former glory.  In addition the basement to this Chapel, which was originally used as the Crematorium, was renovated to create toilet and service facilities for visitors and a lift was installed to give disabled access.  To one side of the chapel a glass entrance pavilion was constructed and externally pavings were laid to provide visitors with seating areas.
The East Lodge was then restored to be used as an office for the Cemetery staff.  A new roof was constructed and stonework repairs carried out and restoration of all existing joinery was undertaken by our own Joinery Workshop who repaired and manufactured timbers as required.  New services, heating, electrical and IT wiring was installed and decorations undertaken as specified.

Finally within the grounds of the Cemetery new footpaths were created, roads resurfaced, drainage installed and landscaping works undertaken to complete the project to a high standard of workmanship and to the satisfaction of our client and visitors to the Cemetery.

Value £3,904,721