IMPOSING seven-centuries-old monastic ruins at Worcester Cathedral have emerged from their scaffolding and sheeting encasement of three years, impressively refreshed after a £250,000 restoration, all masterfully undertaken by the Cathedral’s own team of stonemasons.

The Guesten Hall, built in 1320 and the place where the Cathedral monks gave hospitality to strangers and guests to the city, was mostly demolished in 1862, though thankfully, one large side wall with its four window voids somehow survived.

The sturdy stonework remains of a once significant historic building which had graced the cathedral grounds for centuries thus became forlorn ruins, standing close to the magnificent round structure of the monastic Chapter House.

During the past 10 years there had been mounting concern about the unstable state of the ruins, so much so that “Danger” signs were erected on them to warn people against venturing too near.

Then about three years ago, matters came to a head when chunks of masonry began falling from the ruins. Safety measures were immediately taken and scaffolding and other supports erected to shore up the ruins for urgent repair work to begin.

Master mason Darren Steele, head of the cathedral’s team of stonemasons which has carried out the entire Guesten Hall ruins revival, said that initially the task had been seen as a conservation project, “making good the pointing and replacing a few bits of stonework”.

However, as detailed inspection was carried out by him, his team, cathedral architect Chris Romain and other experts, it became very clear that more radical steps were vital.

Mr Steele said: “Far more stone than originally estimated needed replacing, the foundations were in a serious state and there were chambers or voids in the stonework which required filling in for stability.

“All in all, it clearly became a restoration project. Instead of just a few pieces of new stone, a substantial quantity was required.

“We also had to install stainless steel rods and fill the chambers and voids.

“About 15 per cent of the original stonework has been replaced and the whole task has been carried out very traditionally and with traditional mortars, as originally adopted in the 14th century.

“My team and I have really enjoyed the restoration work and take pride in the finished product. The Guesten Hall ruins are now secured and will hopefully stand for a good many years.”

Perhaps the crowning feature of the restoration is the new and intricate tracery in stone, painstakingly carved for one of the four large window voids in the ruins.

It is a re-creation of the tracery panel which graced the window for centuries. Pieces of the original 14th century tracery had survived in the window but were found to be decayed and beyond repair.

Mr Steele said: “It was therefore decided at meetings to replace the tracery, and it has been a joy to me to recapture entirely the original 14th-century design which was to be seen in engravings and other old images.

“We brought in St Bees’ sandstone from Cumbria because of its fineness and density and I involved all my team in carving the new tracery.”

The Dean of Worcester, the Very Rev Peter Atkinson is delighted with the outcome.

He said: “The tracery, superbly re-carved by our stonemasons, is a triumph of contemporary work in an ancient tradition.”

The work to the tracery was readily approved by English Heritage but has been funded entirely by the cathedral. The ruins’ restoration has also been carried out with funding from the cathedral’s restoration trust, though matched by finance from English Heritage.

The Guesten Hall ruins project marks the completion of the 20-year, £10 million restoration of Worcester Cathedral – a milestone which will be marked by a special thanksgiving service at the cathedral on Sunday, September 25, at 4pm.

The preacher will be the Very Rev Robert Jeffery, who was Dean of Worcester at the time the local and national fund-raising appeal was launched for the cathedral’s massive restoration.