The College Cloister Building formally known as College of Vicars Choral is Grade I listed and was built between 1472-1475. The building complex initially provided lodgings for 27 vicars but the decreasing number in resident vicars led to remodelling of the building in the 16^th and 19^th century.

The wall paintings on the staircase

Although fragmented and faded, the remains of a wall painting within the Choir House no. 12 provide a glimpse into the past and let us imagine the splendour once hidden behind the doors of this building.

The wall painting is located on the north wall of building no.12 onto a close studded timber frame construction with narrow plaster panels set between the vertical timber beams. The timber frame is believed to date from the original construction phase, but the wall painting is assumed to be mid-16^th century.

Hirst Conservation were initially commissioned to undertake a condition survey of the wall painting to assist with the redevelopment project of the College Cloister Building, which was awarded the Heritage Lottery Fund. This led to further research with conservation treatments and preventive measures being implemented between February and October 2020.

During grouting

Detail of grouting with nano-lime

Conservation treatments included surface cleaning, reduction of staining, removal of wallpaper residuals from the painted decoration, paint consolidation and securing of friable plaster.  Particularly challenging was the development of suitable cleaning methods to avoid formation of water marks.

Detail of before (l) and after conservation (r)

Once the fabric of the wall painting was conserved, temporary securing measures were implemented to protect the wall painting fragment during construction. After completion of the building works our conservator returned to site to remove the temporary protection and inspected the painting to ensure its stability.