Induni Conservation Ltd. Registered in England, No.:6124875

Dr. Bruce Induni,  consultant on stone and mortar

07971 194454 : induni_conservation@yahoo.co.uk

 

Pitstone font : Historic use of materials

From a 21st. Century viewpoint it is very tempting to think that technology has given us an armoury of new materials and techniques... That we have solved the problems of the past. Nothing could be further from the truth.

 

Our forefathers chose their stones for workability above durability, carved them daringly thin, embedded too much metal in them, stressed them with hot lead and were hopelessly optimistic about the power of their adhesives...

 

Time will tell how well we compare.

The medieval font lid would have been pinned and locked to prevent the theft of holy water. These iron fixings will have corroded and caused the first splitting of the bowl