Conservationists have renewed a bid to save the oldest surviving building Durham from decay.
Believed to date from around 1080, the atmospheric Norman Chapel has survived “remarkably intact” from the original foundation of Durham Castle, and is one of the site’s most important spaces.
But Durham University say the 1,000 year old monument has a damp problem and that its historic stonework is decaying “at an unacceptable rate”.
The university, which is responsible for the upkeep of the Grade-I listed building, has been given the go-ahead by planners for the latest phase of works to preserve the chapel for future generations.
The application comes after the university launched a plan to tackle the historic chapel’s damp problem last year.
A report submitted to Durham County Council said : “Phase 1 of the full conservation programme involved 12-month monitoring of the environmental conditions, mapping liquid moisture and humidity levels and ambient and surface temperatures testing.
“This initial stage also involved undertaking trial excavations to the north terrace in order to fully determine the current arrangement for carrying water away from the light-wells.”
The current proposals will seek to ease the rate of historic stonework decay, stabilise the affected areas and stop water entering the site as much as possible.
The works include removing “cementitious” material from the walls and replacing it with lime mortar on the walls and stone columns.
The report adds: “Other works involve tests to prepare of a full strategy for repairing damage to the capitals and voussoirs of the vault ribs, and deep cavitation’s in the stonework, removal of elements such as salts and candle wax where necessary and finally analyse paint finishes and determine the composition of plaster/rendered finishes.”
Approving the application, Durham planners said: “The works proposed are necessary to decrease the rate of historic fabric decay, consolidate and repair the fabric, in order to preserve and secure the longevity of this internationally important building for future generations.”
The chapel is in the north range of the castle and is reached from an antechamber down a square tunnel, as it was submerged by later rebuilding in the 12th, 15th and 16th centuries.
The dimly-lit chamber contains six central stone columns with unusual carvings featuring the bodies of animals and human heads.
The floor is laid in a herringbone pattern, a typical Anglo-Saxon design thought to have been laid by local craftsmen in the 11th century.