Westminster Abbey conservation project tests protective waxes

The UK’s National Physical Laboratory (NPL) has taken part in a City & Guilds of London Art School project to investigate the effectiveness of wax coatings at protecting the stone floors of Westminster Abbey.

With the number of visitors increasing yr-on-yr, conservation efforts are crucial to preserving and enhancing the UK’s cultural heritage. Ledger stones, which mark places of burial and cover the floors of many cathedrals and churches, are particularly vulnerable to damage from high footfall, with inscriptions and decorative carvings disappearing underfoot.

Current policy at Westminster Abbey is to not re-inscribe ledger stones, making their effective protection essential. This can be attempted in various ways: floors can be protected by barriers or covered with mats; stones can be repositioned in less busy areas or removed completely and placed in a museum. Alternatively, protective coatings can be applied. Conservation Studies student Rebecca Davison undertook a project to assess 10 wax formulations for use as protective coatings on polished limestone floors, such as those found in Westminster Abbey and many other historic buildings.
Waxes were applied to Tournai ‘marble’ (actually a black limestone) samples provided by Westminster Abbey at City & Guilds and a micro-tribometer was then used at NPL to simulate the abrasion caused by dirt and grit brought in on visitors’ shoes.