Historic Properties: South East

Historic Properties

South East

The standing building analysis of a number of our major monuments has continued this year, including the monastic Dorter Range at Battle Abbey and the Inner Bailey Walls at Dover, both associated with major conservation programmes. Further work has also been undertaken at Bayham Abbey, Camber Castle, Pevensey, Portsmouth Garrison Church, Reculver, and Waverley Abbey. Some emphasis has been placed on carrying out surveys of some of our roofed buildings, as part of our disaster planning strategy. Major survey and analysis have now been completed of the roof of Walmer Castle, revealing a complex picture of alterations and reuse. An initial survey of the exterior of the roof at Deal Castle has also been undertaken in preparation for further work on the fascinating series of graffiti scribed on the lead. Recording has also taken place of the paintings associated with the Gunners Theatre at Hurst Castle in advance of conservation, and of Second World War graffiti discovered in the Officers Mess at Dover. Topographical survey has been undertaken at Osborne, to add the stable block to the existing survey, and at Bayham to include the abbey ruins, and the core of the Repton landscape. Work has also now started on the backlog project of the Camber Castle excavations. It is intended that more recent work on the standing structure will be incorporated into an overall report.