An ancient clunch (chalk) church tower was extensively cracked so AFP were invited to investigate the cause. Monitoring stations were installed in strategic locations. Test pits were excavated to identify the nature of the foundations and characteristics of the underlying subsoil. The bells were rung whilst dynamic monitoring was undertaken. The results of these checks identified some very real deficiencies in the foundations. The heavy clunch walls were supported on chalk rubble beneath the ground. This rubble was confined on the sides by shrinkable clay soils. As the moisture content in the clay changed due to heavy rain and the water demand of the nearby group of mature lime trees the volume of the clay changed and hence the degree of confinement of the supporting rubble changed. In addition some enthusiastic grave-diggers had undermined the footings when excavating graves. Needless to say in the course of remediation the full extent of these graves was determined. An external perimeter concrete skirt was designed to confine the rubble below ground level. This skirt was tied across the tower below the ground floor using stainless steel rods. The tower itself was carefully inspected. It was noted that the vertical joints in the stonework were almost above one another instead of being staggered by half a block length as is customary. AFP decided that the solution was to install some perimeter Cintec stainless steel rod anchors to act as horizontal belts at each floor level to restore the robustness of the tower. Happily the work has now been satisfactorily completed and the bells are now ringing merrily.
