Salford Cathedral has served the people of Manchester for more than 175 years. By 2021, however, the Grade II* listed building was in poor repair, with significant structural problems and increasing vulnerability to extreme weather.
Working with Purcell, we carried out a three-year programme of works to restore the cathedral and improve its environmental performance, supporting the Diocese of Salford’s ambitious sustainability targets.
A new breathable floor
A key priority was removing the impermeable Victorian concrete floor, which was driving moisture into the cathedral’s pillars and walls, damaging the historic stonework. It was replaced with a low carbon, breathable floor incorporating an underfloor heating system. We worked with flooring specialists and Purcell to develop a structural approach for the new floor, avoiding the need for underpinning. The design also accommodating new localised foundations for the relocated font and other heavy cathedral furniture.
Conserving the historic stonework
The cathedral's stonework was also carefully surveyed, including the extensive façade, window tracery, spire and pinnacles. Working with the conservation team, we developed targeted remedial details to address areas of deterioration and instability, allowing as much of the original stonework as possible to be retained. The repairs were designed to be sympathetic to the existing construction, with interventions focused on addressing the causes of deterioration than replacing historic fabric unnecessarily.
Repairing the timber roof
The roof coverings were replaced, providing an opportunity to inspect the underlying timber roof structures in detail. Areas of rot and decay were identified, and we specified the remedial details for the repair or replacement of defective timber, retaining the existing structure wherever possible.
Protecting the stained glass
All 28 of the cathedral's stained-glass windows were fitted with secondary glazing, protecting the original glazing from rain, wind and pollution, while also improving the building's energy performance.
The temporary church
During the refurbishment works, a temporary church was erected in the gardens adjacent to the Cathedral. This building had a simple demountable steel frame and removable screw pile foundations, so that on completion of the restoration of the Cathedral the temporary church could be unbolted, the screw piles unscrewed, and the new external landscaping completed.
