Conservation of the Gibraltar Garrison Library balustrade

Following a period of conservation of over eighteen months, the balustrade at the Garrison Library has finally been liberated of its scaffolding to reveal the 19^th century Georgian garden balustrade that frames the main entrance to the Garrison Library.

Conservation works became necessary following concerns over the deterioration of the sandstone balusters supporting the handrail. This level of stone erosion is inevitable when we consider that the balustrade was designed and build between 1800-1804, a period informed by horse-drawn carriages and less environmental pollution. Some 220 years later, it was found that the stonework had become subject to a gradual albeit inevitable process of deterioration which needed addressing.

The road towards restoration has, however, been longer than initially anticipated; it has nevertheless been robust, informed as it has been with consultations with stone conservators, structural engineers, archaeologists and with the contractors engaged to carry out the works. The underlying aim throughout has been to meet the balance between heritage conservation processes and 21^st century demands for structural integrity.

This has entailed the replacement of a number of the original sandstone balusters with new ones crafted from limestone. Sourcing the limestone and having baluster elements produced proved to be a lengthy yet rewarding undertaking, with these new pieces now in place. Interestingly, and as part of the research carried out in preparation for the works, the team at the Garrison Library discovered that the balustrade had undergone previous restorations during the late 19^th century and early 20^th, with sandstone balusters being replaced with limestone.

Dr Jennifer Ballantine Perera, Director at the Garrison Library added that: “We face similar conservation dilemmas today as experienced over a hundred years ago; this is a rather illuminating fact. Importantly, we are now equipped with greater knowledge to continue in other conservation projects and indeed, are able to showcase our impressive neoclassical Georgian balustrade”.

Commenting on the works, Professor John Cortes, Minister for Culture and Heritage, stated that: “I cannot stress how pleased I am to see this conservation project finally come to fruition. Clearly conservation and heritage works are complex., and we have to get it right. Safeguarding our heritage is not simply a question of mothballing something because it is old, but rather of understanding historical contexts and engaging with these in the present. Achieving this aim is down to team work; to informed dialogue with all parties concerned in this endeavour. The team at the Garrison Library have endorsed this principle from the onset and I look forward to commenting further on other works in the pipeline”.

The cleaning of the balustrade stonework remains an ongoing project. Balusters, handrails, footrails and pediments have been carefully cleaned with conservation grade materials. The cleaning of the Town Range facing wall is to commence in early Spring in collaboration with Manuel Jaen, the conservator at the Gibraltar National Museum.