you are in > news > January 2009

Stonebond® plays part in Walsingham Priory renovation

Nearly 200 square metres of Stonebond® surface dressing, manufactured by Wymondham based Ayton Products, has been applied to replace the existing surfacing at Walsingham Priory, in Norfolk.

The surfacing formed part of an extensive renovation project of the buildings and surrounds and was financed by the £2 million Walsingham Appeal, aided by a substantial grant from The Heritage Lottery Fund.

The fascinating story of Walsingham Priory began in the eleventh century when it is claimed Richeldis de Faverches, a deeply religious and philanthropic Saxon noblewoman, married to Geoffrey, the Lord of the Manor of Walsingham Parva, was rewarded by a vision in the year 1061. According to legend, the vision was repeated three times. Each time she was taken by Mary, mother of Jesus, to be shown the house in Nazareth where Gabriel had announced the news of the birth of Jesus and Mary asked Richeldis to build an exact replica of that house in Walsingham. She completed the task and the location became known as England's Nazareth; a shrine and a place of pilgrimage. The story was even retold through a fifteenth century ballad.

In passing on his guardianship of the Holy House, Geoffrey de Faverches left instructions for the building of a Priory in Walsingham, which passed into the care of Augustinian Canons somewhere between 1146 and 1174.

The resurfacing work, at the Stella Maris Building of the Milner Wing of Walsingham Priory, was carried out and completed during October 2008. Despite being hampered by both inclement weather conditions and other trades working in the vicinity, the Ayton approved contractor was able to complete the work on time for the Priory’s official re-opening.

Ayton’s Stonebond® is a hard-wearing, easy to- use, cold-applied polyurethane resin used for bonding specially selected natural and pigmented aggregates to new or existing asphalt, concrete, metal and timber surfaces. The finished surface gives the appearance of shingle, but eliminates the nuisance and maintenance problems associated with loose aggregates.

The cured system gives a durable, textured surfacing, ideal for pedestrian areas, footpaths, cycleways, car parks and driveways. It is often employed to create colour demarcation, or anti-skid finishes and as part of traffic calming schemes.

back to top