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Restoring the Monks' Garden Wall

The Monks' Garden was formed in the 12th century when the Galilee Chapel was built. In 2022, work was started to restore the long and high boundary wall around the garden.

The final stone is laid in the restoration project

The final brick has been laid, to restore the Monks’ Garden Wall, with the scaffolding to be dismantled in the week commencing 26 February.

The last stone was put in place on Tuesday 13 February by Durham Cathedral stonemason's Graham Penfold and Grace Impesi, whilst the extensive work has been carried out over 200 newly cut and reclaimed stones in place.

The conservation work began in 2022, after a survey was carried out and it became clear that some stones within the wall were either missing, damaged, or had a crack or void behind them.

The majority of the work has been carried out by Durham Cathedral’s team of skilled stonemasons and during this major conservation work, the team faces dome significant structural issues which required expertise of a conservation structural engineer. The work also relied on permission from the Fabric Advisory Committee and listed building consent, which can be a lengthy process.

What work was undertaken?

During this major conservation work, our team of stonemasons are currently hard at work to replace some of the stones in the centuries-old wall. To do this, our expert team take out stones in a bad condition and chip away at new stones to make them the right shape and size, before securing them into the wall with lime mortar. 

Here at Durham Cathedral, maintaining traditional methods of work is very important to us, so this often means working by hand. We also create our own lime mortar onsite, which is often used in historical conservation as it prevents water from becoming trapped inside the wall. 

As part of the conservation work, we work hard to ensure that the replacement stones we use are a close match to the original stone in need of repair. We work with a team of experts to match the stones as closely as possible and to help us source them locally. 

Why did this work need doing?

During a recent survey of the wall, it became clear that some stones within the wall were either missing, damaged, or had a crack or void behind them. If left unresolved, the stonework within the wall could prove dangerous, so our team began working on this major conservation project. 

Some of the rocks within the wall had become delaminated as they were laid incorrectly in the original wall. Imagine a book standing up on its end, rather than resting on its side. Over time, the layer of the rock, or pages of the book, have begun to peel away. 

Another problem with the wall is due to the type of cement mortar that was used during an earlier restoration project in the Victorian era. The type used previously isn't breathable so rainwater can get between gaps in the rocks, which can make the wall unstable if it freezes. 

How you can help

Conservation work lets us ensure that the cathedral will still be here for future generations to enjoy. There's a lot of work which comes with conserving a building that's almost 1000 years old, as well as a lot of cost.

Donations can contribute to the upkeep of the cathedral, and helps us in our mission to preserve such an iconic site.

Make a donation

The history of the Monks' Garden

The Monks' Garden was originally part of an open area, which became enclosed when the Galilee Chapel was built in the 12th century. The Rites of Durham tells us that this space was used by novice monks in their leisure time as a bowling green.

After the dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century, the bowling green became a garden for the clergy. Until recent years, the garden remained private and enclosed. 

Today, the garden is open to the public and makes a great space for picnics during sunny weather. Whilst the restoration work is ongoing, you can see scaffolding and boarding up alongside the wall, but the garden remains open. 

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