Winter 2003
Szerelmey are currently working in the environs of HM Tower of London, specifically on the Scheduled Ancient Monument known as Tower Hill. This site, which has been a public gathering place for over 900 years, is now in the course of a truly magnificent transformation.

The whole area, situated on the west side of the Tower of London has been redesigned by the Architects, Stanton Williams, and will improve the accessibility, safety and appearance of Tower Hill. The Tower, synonymous with the last 1,000 years of British history, is one of the most visited historic monuments in the country and this project will provide it with a setting far more appropriate to its status as a World Heritage Site. In particular, the two education centres, one within and one without the Tower walls, are an important benefit to the local community and all visitors to the area will enjoy the pedestrianised Hill and its improved vistas of both the River Thames and the Tower of London. The majority of the funding for Tower Environs Scheme is being borne by donations received from bodies such as the Pool of London Partnership, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Environment Agency and Sir Paul Getty. This money was donated and therefore set aside specifically for this scheme.

Working for the Historic Royal Palaces, the charitable Trust that manages HM Tower of London, Main Contractor Wallis and Quantity Surveyors Gardiner & Theobald, Szerelmey are undertaking the £1.5 million hard landscaping package, incorporating new and reclaimed Yorkstone paving. In addition some 4600 square metres of French blue grey granite paving and cladding to the Vaults and Pump house buildings are also being detailed, procured and fixed.

Szerelmey’s in-house design team headed by Mark Walden and resident engineer Dave Guyett have been faced with a very complex task with the detailing and setting out operations as all joints to the vast areas of paving and steps have been designed to align perfectly in all directions.

One of the first areas to be completed will be the Moat Wall Terrace, which will give visitors a panoramic view of the western elevation of the Tower. The terrace is being paved in Lanhelin flame textured granite. Forward planning has been imperative as some of the units weigh approximately 500kg each. Szerelmey are using a telehoist with a specially adapted lifting rig, which incorporates hydraulic suction cups to safely manoeuvre each of these stones in place. The experience Szerelmey has gained from previous award-winning projects such as the entrance steps and paving at the Victoria and Albert Museum has proved invaluable.

Another part of Szerelmey’s package involves the cleaning and restoration of the existing Pump House and Wharfinger Cottage buildings at the Tower’s entrance, located to the south of the scheme adjacent to the River Thames. The fabric of these buildings has been delicately cleaned using the Jos system and repointed in a lime mortar to match the consistency of the existing mortar of both buildings under the direction of English Heritage.