DJ Cooper Building Conservation for Chard, Somerset

Chard is the highest town in Somerset, at 500 feet above sea level, and the most southerly, lying very close to the Devon border. A hill fort lies to the south of the town, which was described in the Domesday Book as "Ceidre", meaning The Royal Town of Cerdic. Cerdic was the 5th Century Celt who founded the Kingdom of Wessex. Many believe that Cerdic was the character upon whom King Arthur was based, thus making Chard the original Camelot. Since then Chard has experienced changes of fortune, such as almost completely burning down, to be rebuilt in the 16th century. At that time, the town like many others in Somerset was prospering from the textile industry, which was helped by being on the main London to Exeter route, facilitating trade both within England and in countries reached by sea.

With historic buildings in and around the town, some national monuments, some still in use, owned privately or by the local council, we often find ourselves called on in the Chard area to ensure that when the grime from traffic, bird fouling, general day to day soiling or even graffiti is removed from a treasured building, there is no damage to the often delicate stonework beneath.

From removal of old paint for a domestic redecoration project, or the intricate cleaning of stone work in a cathedral using the poultice method, you will find that wherever you are in Chard or Somerset, you will get a quick response, highly competitive quotation and thorough cleaning from DJ Cooper. Our number is shown above, or if you prefer to send us an email, simply click in the header of any page.

Photo from Featured Project near Chard, Somerset
Poultice Cleaning

For the effective removal of rust, copper staining and atmospheric soiling from masonry by the application of tailor-made poultices which are specific to the material to be cleaned. This technique is particularly useful for removing soiling in building interiors where the use of water based techniques would be damaging, and it is extremely effective for gently cleaning sculpture and monuments.