Winchester Cathedral has launched Stone by Stone, a £12 million, decade-long conservation programme to restore its 900-year-old Gothic structure. The project targets the crumbling South Nave Aisle, where decades of weathering have weakened the 12th-century masonry. Work will progress bay by bay from west to east, beginning with the three bays adjacent to Curle’s Passage—a high-traffic pedestrian route—due to public safety concerns.
The scheme combines traditional stone masonry with modern conservation techniques, led by the cathedral’s in-house stonemasons and specialists from the Cathedrals Workshop Fellowship. Repairs include cleaning, repointing historic masonry, restoring grotesques and gargoyles, and conserving medieval stained glass. Contractors will handle the glasswork, while the cathedral’s craftspeople focus on carved stone elements.
Key Points
- ✅ £12m restoration targets 900-year-old South Nave Aisle
- ⚡ First three bays prioritised for public safety
- 💡 Donors can sponsor stones, with initials carved into replacements
Public engagement is central to the project. Donors can sponsor individual stones for £500, funding cleaning and repair, or pledge £1,000 for the same plus a carved initial on a replacement stone and a digital image of the finished work. The cathedral has long relied on public generosity, as it receives no regular funding from government or the Church of England.
| Donation Tier | Benefit |
|---|---|
| £500 | Cleaning and repair of one stone + special tour |
| £1,000 | All of the above + carved initials on replacement stone + digital photo of carving |
Revd Chris Palmer, Dean of Winchester, visited the scaffolding to inspect the work firsthand and even attempted stone carving alongside the cathedral’s stonemasons. The project underscores the cathedral’s commitment to preserving heritage skills, with apprentices trained through its long-standing partnership with the Cathedrals Workshop Fellowship. The first phase is scheduled to begin this month, with completion of the initial three bays expected by early 2025.
💡 Pro Tip
Arrive early for tours during the restoration—spaces fill quickly as the public gains unprecedented access to the cathedral’s underbelly.
This is not the first time Winchester Cathedral has turned to public support for major conservation. Past campaigns have funded everything from roof repairs to stained glass restoration. Yet the scale of Stone by Stone dwarfs previous efforts, reflecting the urgency of the task at hand. Without intervention, experts warn that irreversible damage could occur within a generation.
📋 By The Numbers
- 900 years — Age of the cathedral’s South Nave Aisle masonry
- 11 — Number of cathedrals in England part of the Cathedrals Workshop Fellowship
- 12 — Number of grotesques and gargoyles to be restored under the project
The cathedral’s fundraising campaign runs parallel to the conservation work, with organisers aiming to secure at least 30% of the £12m target through public donations. The remaining funds will come from trusts, foundations, and private benefactors. Organisers stress that every contribution—no matter the size—helps preserve a building that has stood witness to centuries of English history.