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Westminster Abbey 1954 Casting Table - 1950's This is an extract from the Leicester Evening Mail dated 31 October 1953. CITY FIRM WILL RE-LEAD ROOF OF ABBEY NAVE. The contract for the re-leading of the nave roof and two magnificent towers at Westminster Abbey has been awarded to Norman & Underwood. "It is a very big honour for us" said Managing Director Mr J L Underwood "We cannot get any higher than this in the trade" Norman & Underwood have carried out similar work at Wells Cathedral, Woburn Abbey on the estate of the late Duke of Bedford, St George's Chapel and numerous other cathedrals and churches. In the next month or so a team of skilled workmen will leave Leicester to begin the nine-month task of stripping off the old lead, re-casting it and then re-fixing it onto the nave and two 200ft towers. Although the lead at present on the Abbey roof is probably some 200 years or so old, this will be melted down and re-cast into sheets that will be fixed back in position. To do this, craftsmen at the firm will use a process first employed by the Romans 2,000 years ago to make the weather-resisting lead sheets. It is a process known to only a few firms. Before the task is completed, about 100 tons of lead will have been re-cast and refined into about 2,000 sheets stretching about two and a half miles. Most of the workmen who will carry out the work started as apprentices with the firm and have been carrying out similar work all over the country. The man in charge will be Mr Jack Beebee, of Leicester who will take with him the experience gained whilst carrying out similar work at Salisbury Cathedral, Ely Cathedral, Woburn Abbey and nearer to home, Staunton Harold Church. He joined the Leicester firm as an apprentice 33 years ago and is one of the longest-serving employees. His team will include Mr Ron Crowdell, Mr Jack Holt, Mr Leslie Hanson, Mr Ted Hammond and Mr George King. The Works Manager Mr J C Chesterton will supervise the whole job. The men will live near their work in caravans provided by the firm. Mr Underwood has spent a week in London, measuring up the nave and towers and final plans for carrying out the contract are at present being drawn up by the firm. FOOTNOTE: Westminster Abbey was today all prepared for the All Saints' Day services tomorrow, when the Abbey is open to the public for the first time since the preparations for the Coronation service were begun 10 months ago.   back to top back to major contracts   11-27 Freeschool Lane, Leicester LE1 4FX, England tel: 0116 251 5000 fax: 0116 253 2669 e-mail: [email protected]