CWO's Small Works Division was established specifically to undertake smaller local contracts in stonemasonry and restoration works to historic buildings.
Under the management of Richard Mitchell, Small Works has developed into a flourishing area of the business, fully supported by the company's expertise in stonemasonry, restoration and conservation. Experience gained from these contracts enables Small Works to offer a specialist service for smaller local projects undertaken on behalf of schools, churches, private householders or smaller building contractors.
Frequently clients contact Small Works in the first instance for specialist advice on anything from stone selection, to cleaning and maintenance works to walls, gables, copings, doorways, windows, stone floors and so forth. This may in turn lead to ancillary work such as repairs to roofing, drainage, woodwork, flintwork and specialist brickwork.
Below are some examples of Small Works projects carried out by our specialist team.
Queen's Road, Basingstoke
An example project by Hampshire Building Conservation Trust to illustrate how problems caused by 1960s 'modernisations' and DIY improvements could be rectified and the buildings character restored, while demonstrating how 'environmentally aware' initiatives were equally compatible with older buildings as well as those of more recent construction.
CWO carried out cleaning to the facade of the three bedroom Edwardian terraced house, using a combination of environmentally sensitive methods to remove several coats of inappropriate white masonry paint without damaging the brickwork underneath.
St Joseph's Church, Epsom
CWO constructed new circular Altar, Tabernacle Stand, Lectern Ambo and Font in Portland Stone for this new church in Epsom. CWO also constructed a new sunken Baptismal Pool, consisting of Portland stone steps and pool surround, with mosaic tiles lining the inside of the pool.
CWO's contract also involved the restoration of the old front from the original church, and the insertion of a new stainless steel liner, with water circulated from the font to the pool.
Goodwood Golf Club and Pro Shop, Chichester
CWO carried out specialist stonework packages for local building contractor E A Chiverton, at the historic Goodwood Estate, which included new Portland stone floors to the lobby and corridors. A beautiful example of stone flooring, many of our clients are inspired by this and use it as a basis for their own designs.
The package also included external Portland stone steps, walls, paving and copings, and re-laying York paving,. CWO also supplied and fixed new Moca Creme stone flooring to the Pro Shop to match the new Ralph Laurent designed interior, took down and rebuilt the front and rear pediments, and cleaned , re-pointed and repaired the front and rear elevations of the building.
Leatherhead Library
CWO carried out the contract for the rebuild of the wall surrounding the library in Leatherhead, as the old wall surrounding the library grounds was in danger of collapse. CWO's Small Works carefully dismantled the old flint wall and brick buttresses, the foundations were dug out and renewed, and a new blockwork backing was built and faced in knapped flintwork.
While this project was carried out on behalf of Surrey County Council, CWO's Small Works Division has carried out numerous similar projects for other organisations and private individuals across the South East and London, and are also specialists in stone and brick walling.
The Chattri Memorial, Brighton
Built to commemorate the Sikh and Hindu soldiers who died in Brighton and Hove hospitals during WWI, the memorial was unveiled by the Prince of Wales in 1921. CWO carried out various restoration works to the memorial including cleaning, re-pointing and piecing in repairs, taking up and relaying paving and steps, and taking off and re-fixing the finial and coping stones.
CWO's Small Works Division has been working with county, district and town councils across the South for many years to provide expert restoration, conservation and in some cases even new build services for war memorials.
