ICE - Appraisal and repair of St. Peter's at the Cross, Chester

St Peter’s at the Cross, a Grade I listed 14th century church in the centre of Chester, was at risk of closure due to the condition of its East wall. This wall, which also houses three large stained-glass windows, was found on appraisal to suffer a serious intrinsic stability problem.

The church, located on the four main roads in the centre of the city, is still used for worship; it also houses a café and hosts weekly community groups. Being able to undertake these repairs and ensure the future of the church building for the local community was a major driver behind the project.

During an inspection, the outward forces from the central and south arches were discovered to be badly resolved in the unbuttressed gable, leading to movement in the wall which is adjacent to a busy road.

Thrust-line equilibrium assessments were used to determine force magnitude and position in the masonry. Stabilisation works, undertaken in the 19th century to the north arcade, also were used as a blueprint for the repair of the remaining arcades.

This hybrid presentation will explore the appraisal process, innovative repair strategies and the technical challenges faced in stabilising the historic nave arcades, all while preserving the church’s heritage.