Restoration of the Refectory

About

In the 1990s the refectory of St Nicholas Priory was rescued from near dereliction. After the glory of the Tudor Era, it became poor tenements during the Victorian Era, and later had educational use. Exeter Historic Building's Trust, working with renowned conservation architect Niall Phillips, restored (as found) this wing. Funding was secured to turn the building into furnished accommodation, with a meeting room in the roof space. During the conversion much conservation research was carried out on the discoveries made beneath the plaster work during this time.

This tour and talk will describe in detail this project, going into specific specialist work such as the analysis of the timber dating and the painting conservation. We will also be discussing the building work, from the history of the tenements to the restoration to its current restored state today.