Freeland Rees Roberts Architects has completed a major refurbishment project at Norwich Cathedral involving the conservation of the south elevation of the south aisle.

Fundraising from organisation Friends of Norwich Cathedral, and a £25,000 grant from English Heritage made the conservation project possible.

A further English Heritage grant for the cathedral has also been secured recently for masonry and rainwater pipe repairs to be undertaken over the next year. This second phase project has also been heavily supported by the Friends of Norwich Cathedral.

These projects follow the completion of the cloister drainage and paving works last year.

Norwich Cathedral is one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture in Northern Europe. Construction began in 1096. Henry Freeland, director of Freeland Rees Roberts Architects and a leading conservation specialist was appointed in 1997 as surveyor to the Fabric and Architect to the Cathedral and advises on all aspects concerning the historic building fabric. This role involves all aspects of inspection, repair, conservation, improvements, alterations, furniture and fittings.

Mr Freeland said that inspections are carried out to establish its condition and to formulate strategies and programmes for repair and conservation. “Liturgical alterations and improvements, health and safety measures, improvements and repairs to the building services systems, new furniture and signage have all been part of our work,” he said. “We have also collaborated with Hopkins Architects on the award-winning refectory, dealing with the adjacent historic building work.”

Mr Freeland added that another major building project is now underway at the cathedral, namely a new Hostry Visitors’ and Education Centre. “This is also a collaborative project with Hopkins Architects where we are dealing with the historic building work,” Mr. Freeland said. “The Hostry will provide superb new facilities for education, exhibitions and community events, and the choir.” It is due for completion next year.”

The Very Revd Graham Smith, Dean of Norwich, said: “Norwich Cathedral has a longstanding working relationship with Freeland Rees Roberts Architects and we are delighted with the conservation and
architectural work conducted by the practice over the years. For more than 900 years this iconic building
has stood as a witness to the glory of God. The cathedral is a building that has always been greatly loved by the people of Norfolk. For the first 450 years, a large monastic community thrived under the rule of St Benedict, serving the needs of the monks and lay brothers, pilgrims, travellers, and scholars as well as the people of Norfolk. The work of today's cathedral community remains grounded in the principles of its Benedictine founders namely worship, hospitality, and learning.”

The Very Revd Graham Smith concluded: “Thanks to English Heritage grants and the generosity of individuals, the Friends of Norwich Cathedral, churches, trusts and businesses, the cathedral has benefited from vital conservation, restoration, repairs and alteration work as well as from the design and provision of new facilities. Everyone is welcome at Norwich Cathedral - worshippers, pilgrims, tourists, those seeking refreshment or keen to learn, people of all faiths and none.”

Other recent projects at the cathedral include: re-leading of cloister roofs; conservation of masonry; incorporation of sculptures on the west front; new choir stalls and lecterns for the Nave Sanctuary; new misericords; new stained glass windows; a new sound enhancement system; a fire detection system; flooring repairs; health and safety work; and reopening of the Dark Entry.

The Cathedral Close is one of the largest in England and recent projects conducted by Freeland Rees Roberts Architects include conservation and repairs to the Erpingham Gate and Precinct walls, and a scheme for the conversion of Ferry Lane Stables.

Freeland Rees Roberts Architects is architect to more than 100 churches across East Anglia and the South East. The practice has four AABC registered conservation architects and works on all aspects of repair as well as reordering and extensions.

Henry Freeland is Temple Bar’s Historic Buildings Architect, Architect to the fabric of King’s College Chapel and Architect and Surveyor to the Fabric of Guildford Cathedral. The practice’s ecclesiastical client portfolio also includes: King's College Chapel, Cambridge; All Saints' Church, Landbeach; St John the Evangelist, Little Wilbraham; St Marks Church, Cambridge; St Pauls Church, Cambridge; Woolverstone, Suffolk and Wymondham Abbey, Norfolk.

Mr Freeland is currently working for University College Oxford (a new build buttery kitchen) and Cambridge Colleges. He is also architect of the new Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge Visitor’s centre in Epping Forest, St Lawrence Jewry Memorial Fountain and is carrying out a large barn conversions to offices.

Other historic building projects Freeland Rees Roberts Architects has been involved with include: a major improvement project to St John’s College Masters Lodge originally by Sir George Gilbert Scott; the conservation and relocation of Temple Bar to Paternoster Square, City of London (which has been awarded several architectural awards); the conversion of a former derelict gallery into new library facilities at Peterhouse, Cambridge (which was awarded a national RIBA Conservation Commendation in 2006) and numerous conservation and repair projects at Ickworth House, Suffolk.