WAS CONDITION INSPECTION REPORT
At
The Walled Garden
Summerfields
Hastings
Date of inspection:
Wednesday 24th September 2008
Weather
Dull/ Fair
Inspection carried out by: Robert W Jamieson, WAS Surveyors.
Observations
West Wall (externally)
This wall comprises a one brick thick inner wall with a natural stone cladding to the
outer face the brickwork constructed in English garden wall bond with course
aggregate lime mortar.
The wall rises to an approximate height of 3.5m and is topped with a mix of concrete
or composite brick and concrete moulded copings.
There is a single door opening fitted with a ply faced flush door, the doorway is
contained within brick piers.
Condition
Ivy and vegetation foliage is prevalent along the length of this wall mostly at the
Southern end.
A section of the wall at its southern end has been taken down at some time, the area is
now covered with vegetation.
The pointing to the stone work has deteriorated with the resultant loss of the
embossed weathering to the joints.
A number of the coping stones are missing and the remaining ones are open jointed.
The ply faced entrance door is damaged and the door is bereft of a locking facility.
There is a hole in the wall of approximately 2m2. (plate)
Internally
The wall is constructed with common brick in course aggregate lime mortar, the
pointing has deteriorated resulting in the loss of the protective struck weathering.
There is an area of graphite and vegetation growth is prolific along the length of the
wall.
North Wall
This wall is of brick construction 1½ brick thick laid in a course aggregate lime mix
mortar and rises to a height of approximately 3.5m and is topped with coping stones
as before described.
Condition
The pointing has deteriorated intermittently and the coping stones have open joints
and some are missing.
East Wall Externally
This wall is of masonry construction 1½ brick thick laid in a course aggregate lime
mortar mix and rises to a height of approximately 3.5m. there was an entrance/exit
doorway which has been bricked up at some time. The wall rises to an approximate
height of 3.5m, and is topped with similar coping stones as before described.
A length of wall has been rebuilt at the East/South end for approximately 4mm and is
constructed with a different type of brick than the original.
There are areas of graphite.
Ivy is prevalent along the length of the wall
Condition
The pointing has deteriorated intermittently resulting in the loss of the struck
weathering.
A number of coping stones are missing.
South Wall
There is a length of wall approximately 11m returned from the East/South corner
constructed in common brickwork (semi engineering) terminating with toothed
bonding laid in course aggregate lime mortar in English garden wall bond and pointed
as before described. Topped with coping stones as before described.
The remaining length of this wall approximately 16m is devoid of walling and is
covered in vegetation there is evidence of chain link fencing topped with barbed wire.
Condition
The brick walling appears to be of more recent construction but of a different type of
brick than that of the West and most of the East wall and is considered to be in a
reasonable condition.
The chain link fencing has been laid over and as barbed wire is attached is considered
to be a health and safety hazard to anyone venturing within the garden area.
Generally
The internal faces of the walls have extensive areas of deteriorated pointing.
The coping stones are missing in several places.
The whole of the garden area is covered in thick vegetation and foliage.
The retaining walls containing the garden walls are constructed with dry stone walling
and access steps down to the garden level are damaged.
Summarising
Stone façade is recommended to be raked out and repointed.
Entrance door should be replaced with suitable security fixings fitted.
Missing sections of walling and copings to be added.
Brick facades to be raked out and repointed in areas as required.
The whole of the area of garden to be cleared of vegetation growth and foliage.
The chain link fencing with barbed wire attachments should be reinstated to an
acceptable position.
The access steps from the retaining wall down to the garden level should be repaired.
Report prepared by
Robert W Jamieson Surveyor.
Signed………………………..
Date………………….