The Trophy Gate piers were built c1700.

The plinths, pier-cap stonework and volutes over the gate jambs are of Portland Stone. The pier shafts are of red/brown brickwork in English bond with red rubber brick quoins.

The beasts that surmount the piers are cast in lead and are fixed to the stone plinths with stainless steel dowels.

What was the problem?

The south pier to the vehicular gate was struck by an articulated lorry during the music festival.

The top corner of the lorry’s tractor unit caught the NW corner of the pier cap stone causing the pier to rotate.

The impact had rotated the pier caps and the beast’s plinth stone; it had also created a rough shear to the brickwork pier on the NE corner adjacent to the volutes over the gate jambs.

Who was involved?

Project Manager: Rob Umney, Historic Royal Palaces
Engineers: Hockley & Dawson Consultants
Quantity Surveyors: Heritage Cost Consultants Ltd.
Contractor: Simpson Brickwork Conservation Ltd.
Metal Conservator: Hall Conservation Ltd.