Foamed Glass Floor and Lime Screed for Lambeth Palace
Womersley's have just started supplying materials and advice to allow the Floor of the Great Hall at Lambeth Palace to be Insulated for under floor heating with a breathable build up which compliments the historic of this Greath Building.
Upgrading the insulation in the floor with Womersley's Foamit
The Great Hall at Lambeth Palace, which has been built and rebuilt many times over the centuries, currently houses much of the Lambeth Palace Library. Foamed Glass Sub Base before the use of Ionic NHL5 lime and aggragate over the top and a lime screed encasing underfloor heating is part of the latest stage of improvements to the Great Hall. The work is being carried out by William Anelays who are also laying new stone tiles on the floor and undertaking restoration works through out the building.
It was in the first Great Hall that Erasmus and Holbein were welcomed by Archbishop Warham, and where Henry VIII was entertained by Thomas Cranmer.
The Parliamentarian Colonel Scot ordered the demolition of the building following the English Civil War and the more valuable materials were sold off at auction. The Civil War also saw much alteration to the remains of the Palace as the main buildings were divided into two for the use of two Parliamentarian leaders.
Many other buildings in addition to the Hall were destroyed.
It was not until the Restoration that Archbishop Juxon rebuilt the Great Hall. He used much of his own money to complete the works, and attempted as much as possible to replicate the original medieval style. Writing in his diary in 1665, Samuel Pepys described a visit to see "Bishop Juxon's new old-fashioned hall".
In spite of Juxon's splendid restoration, the Great Hall was rarely used until the early 19th Century, when, as part of
Blore's renovations, the Hall first became a home for the Lambeth Palace Library.
The hammer beam roof of the Great Hall was completely destroyed during the Blitz. While Archbishop Juxon's original design was replicated exactly during restorations, many of the books and furniture damaged in the blast could not be restored or replaced.
As well as being home to the Lambeth Palace Library, the Great Hall is often used - during the warmer months - for receptions and events.