CYFIG CHURCH - GROUTING OF TOWER

The ancient and massive tower at Cyfig Church has a history of serious water penetration. Through studying the church over a period of time, Frans Nicholas Architects established that the core of the walls contained significant voids, following centuries of water ingress on an exposed site: driving rain, penetrating through the pointing and porous stones, was collecting and then channelling downward into the church. 

The systematic use of hydraulic lime grout to the tower walls was agreed with Cadw, starting with the most seriously affected South wall. Such grouting work should not only reduce water ingress, but also strengthen a now-weakened tower.

As the exterior had already been re-pointed, it was possible to undertake the grouting from the inside of the tower, accessed by internal scaffolding. Such external access as was needed (to staunch and clean away any run of grout) was undertaken with rope access.

The church was fortunate to have obtained the funding to call upon English Heritage’s principle grouting expert, who worked on site with the architect to instruct on and supervise the Contractor’s work. This has in turn has helped to establish an expertise in this West Wales area where there are other similarly affected mediaeval towers.

The amount of grout finally accepted by the South wall alone was some 15 tonnes, showing how seriously voided the structure had become.