Materials Talks #8:
November 16, 2021, 2:00pm ET

Roman Craft, Medieval Mortars, and 19th-century Replica Mortars in Westminster Abbey, London
Ruth Siddall, PhD, Geologist and Student Mediator, Office of the Vice-Provost for Education and Student Experience, University College London
Ruth Siddall is a geologist and Student Mediator, Office of the Vice-Provost for Education and Student Experience, University College London.  She has worked on historic mortars, concretes, and pigments at archaeological sites in Greece and in historic buildings in the United Kingdom, ranging from Roman forts to 18th-century industrial sites to Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral.

The jewel-like pavement fronting the High Altar of Westminster Abbey was laid down in 1268 by order of Henry III; materials and artisans came to London from Rome.  The Cosmatesque technique of laying pavements was developed by four generations of the Roman Cosmati family and made use of colored stones, cut in geometric shapes, set in mortar in numerous patterns.  The pavement retains much of its original mortar, composed of hydraulic lime and crushed terracotta.  In the 1870s, some mortar was replicated using contemporary Portland cement. This presentation provides a textural and petrological study of the mortars and compares the compositions of the original and replica materials.

1 AIA CES/1 PDH

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