Pitstone font : Wider causes of damage

Accidental impact damage from careless handling of the font lid is certain to be a major contributory factor to the decay of the font bowl.

This is a simple example, but accidental damage risks are often much harder to pick up during survey. Intermittent vibration or impact from transport or construction work are good examples. Still harder to survey are the subtle threats posed by the idiosyncratic habits of building users. I was once asked to find a remedy for very rapid wear to Roman steps at a well known villa. I was baffled, until by chance I saw the gardeners driving a steel lawn roller down them.

There is no substitute for practical experience when assessing risk from accidental damage.