‘Workshop in the sky’ scaffolding to cover Lincoln Cathedral from next week

Restoration and renovation works will start on Lincoln Cathedral from next week.

The special recovery work will take place with the help of a specially designed steel podium deck on the West Front of the cathedral.

The deck has been designed by specialist architectural steel fabricator firm MAP Engineering.

With the help of the scaffolding, which has been created by Grimsby-based specialist scaffolding firm PMC, a workshop will be created 7m above the ground which will enable the conservators access to the stone and rare carvings.

It will enable the Cathedral’s Works Department to access and remove the covering boxes, unveiling part of the Romanesque Frieze for the first time in nearly 35 years.

The process will involve restoration of the 14th century ‘Gallery of Kings’, which is the carvings of eleven kings sitting above the largest door of the Cathedral. In addition to this, the gable at the top of the West Front and 12th century Romanesque Frieze will also be restored.

The West Front work will involve conservation of ‘Gallery of Kings’.

The restoration work is being undertaken as a part of Lincoln Cathedral Connected, which is a heritage lottery-backed project aiming to improve and restore Cathedral’s visiting experience.

Anne Irving, programme manager of Lincoln Cathedral Connected, said: “The Romanesque Frieze on the West Front has been covered for many, many years so this work to unveil the carving and stone work has been a long time coming and I can’t wait to see what we refer to as the ‘workshop in the sky’ in place. It’s an exciting time for the Cathedral and it is fantastic that we have the funds available to do these necessary and important works.”

While the West Front conservation and repair work is expected to reach completion in 2023, the Cathedral will be open to the public as usual throughout the duration of the works.

Anne Irving said: “It’s vital that we preserve the rich history of the Cathedral, which has stood over Lincoln for the last 900 years. Whilst the scaffolding isn’t ideal, the public can be assured that it is necessary in preserving and protecting the Cathedral, which will remain open so we still encourage visitors to come and visit.”

In addition to the restoration work, few more projects will be taken up, which involve the landscaping of Dean’s Green to create a new public space, the new visitor centre which will include a larger café and shop, new toilets with changing facilities and an interpretation centre to display some of the Cathedral’s treasures.