Lincoln Cathedral finds new stone for repairs

Limestone has been sourced for repairs to the Grade I listed Lincoln Cathedral

Lincoln Cathedral has sourced a fresh supply of stone, allowing repairs to continue for at least the next decade.

Work to find a close match to the original limestone - used to construct the Grade I listed building in the 11th Century - was led by geologist Dr Mike Ashton.

The cathedral's previous supply came from a quarry on Riseholme Road, Lincoln, but that ran out in 2021.

Mark Wheater, director of estates and facilities at Lincoln Cathedral, said the discovery was "crucial" to the continued maintenance of the building.

He added: "Each year we use a significant amount of stone for repairs to the fabric."

Lincoln Cathedral is both a Grade I listed building and a scheduled ancient monument.

Current projects include significant repairs to the external stonework of the chapter house, including recreating ornately carved pinnacles on the roof of the building.

Extensive testing of the stone from Daniel Charles Aggregate's quarry in Dunston identified a bed of the correct depth and quality.

Dan Ingall, the firm's managing director, explained that Lincoln limestone is an oolitic limestone formed about 165 million years ago.

"It's a good quality, robust building material, relatively resilient to decay from weathering, and is known for its light but warm colour," he said.

Officials at the cathedral said the work to restore the historic chapter house is expected to cost around £1.5m to complete. They said the money is raised through donations and the work is expected to complete in Autumn 2027.

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