Restoration of West Window and Tower Lancet Windows in 2020

"Now that the scaffold is down, I can at last see your work!  Viewing it from inside the scaffold, you twice said it would 'look beautiful' - and how right you were.  To say that I am absolutely delighted with the job must be the understatement of the year, and the Great Tew stone is such a perfect match with what was there before.  I only wish I could have all the Harlestone/Duston sandstone on the church replaced with it.

But it is not only your work for which I am grateful.  It was a pleasure to have your masons on site - Ben and Sam.  They could not have been more careful or caring and I cannot speak too highly of them.  Similarly, the tidy site at the end of the job - seldom have I experienced anything quite like that - and I have been working with contractors on the church for fifty years.

Lastly, but not least, my very grateful thanks to you for being so helpful and encouraging right from the beginning.  It was a pleasure to work with you.  I surely know where to come when I want any more stonework doing at the church.  There are a number of open joints which need attention and possibly a few pieces of stone to renew - maybe in the spring you will have a few minutes when we can walk round and make a programme - subject to the finances being available!

With all good wishes to you, your family and the team for 2021."

John For for the Little Houghton Parochial Church Council

The Courtauld Institute of Art - letter dated 17th December 2021

"Dear Sean

We are writing with sincere thanks for Boden and Ward's particular involvement in the Courtauld Connects project.  The historic west staircase repair works were not anticipated and we owe you a huge debt of thanks for helping us to open on time this autumn.

It was noted how quickly you were able to mobilise, and the skill and care taken on these most specialist of works is greatly appreciated.  We wanted to particularly single out the calm professionalism of the onsite team, in particular George Mills.

The wonderful reviews have almost all been 5-star, which is a testament to the sustained effort and perfectionism of all involved, and interest continues to grow internationally, with positive coverage across the globe.

We were delighted to welcome HRH The Prince of Wales to the Gallery last week, and highlight our collective achievements in transofrming the buildings, showcasing the full breadth of The Courtauld's collections and our progress towards 'art for all'.

Without your work we simply wouldn't be here.  Thank you for helping us reach this milestone reopening - a particular achievment within the current climate.

A new Virtual Tour of the whole Gallery will launch before Christmas - continuing to share the wonders of the new Courtauld with our audiences, whatever the further developments of Covid may be."

Yours sincerely

The Lord Browne of Madingley - Chairman and Professor Deborah Swallow - Marit Rausing Director

 

Email dated 16/06/22

"Hi Alex

Thank you for your email.

The invoice has been paid & in the nominated account as I type this :0).

A quick note to say that Julie & I are so thoroughly delighted with the quality of work provided, both the internal & external stonework is to a very high standard and looks fabulous!

Ben & Pete are true ambassadors for Boden & Ward and we cannot praise their professionalism enough to achieve this truly wonderful end result, such craftsmanship."

With kind regards

Gary

"Dear Alex/Sean

Just received your final invoice in the post and have made the payment.  Bank have to do a security call back to me on Monday then the funds will be transferred.

Thank you very much for your fantastic work and being so helpful and lovely to work with

Best wishes

Nick"

Boden and Ward have carried out conservation stonework repairs for us on several projects, all with great success. At Witley Court, an English Heritage Scheduled Monument, they were sub-contractor masons for repairs to the Perseus and Andromeda Fountain and main contractor for the west wing consolidation and Ballroom steps reconstruction.

They have also carried out external stone repairs to elevations, balconies and complete reconstruction of the internal stone cantilevered staircase and landings, as sub contractor masons, on a £4m repair project to a burnt out Grade II Georgian Mansion.

Boden and Ward were a pleasure to work with, for their knowledge and ability to produce good workmanship; I have no hesitation in recommending them for consideration on projects involving substantial stone consolidation and repair work.
 

We have worked with Boden and Ward for many years and always with satisfaction. In our experience their workmanship is exemplary both in the worked stone and in installation. This has included the carving of a pair of Ionic columns in Portland Stone for a Grade I London House as well as many other projects requiring quality and precision. They work efficiently and to programme and remain our masonry contractor of choice.

Dear Sirs,

We would like to say that we have been delighted with the work completed by yourselves on the 4 storey staircase recently installed, being part of a development of a 21,000 square foot property in Jersey.

We feel that the workmanship of this staircase has added greatly to the value and compliments the property perfectly.”

The firm of Boden and Ward Stonemasons has been known to me for a considerable number of years. It has recently completed a major English Heritage/HLF grant-aided programme of stonework repairs to the tower and a series of large windows at the church of St Margaret, Crick, Northamptonshire (Contract Value £231396.00).

The work to the windows involved extensive half-soled stonework renewals to elaborate tracery which in the case of the largest window was particularly challenging due to ancient distortions caused by structural movements. In the majority of cases, label stops were renewed and took the forms of carved heads which illustrate the competency and skill of the labour employed in this type of work. The contractor proved appropriate organisational skills and attention to timescale.

Dear Sean,

I am pleased to offer my sincere thanks to all those individuals at Boden & Ward whose combined effort and skills brought the abovementioned contract to a successful conclusion.

The scope of works involved the removal of layers of gloss paint from the existing external masonry (BKS Stone Cleaning, specialist subcontractor); the erection of temporary scaffolding to support the existing stone entablature and timber roof above the porch; the demolition and removal from site of 2 No. deteriorated stone columns with associated bases and capitals; the cutting out and removal from site of 2 No. attached rear flat pilasters flanking the entrance door; workshop machining new ashlar components in Ancaster limestone as required to create authentic restoration of abovementioned columns and pilasters, etc; fixing these on site; repairs and/or replacement of damaged eroded or “lost” architectural decorative features on all three faces of existing stone entablature and cornice; lime pointing to all new masonry and to open joints on existing adjacent walls, etc.

You will recall from our site meeting on Thursday, 22 August with Mr. Nick Brand (Managing Director of Gayhurst Court Management Company) that both he and his fellow-residents in Gayhurst House are very pleased with the transformation in the appearance of this North Porch, which had looked so sad and neglected in recent years. The restoration is indeed worthy of the Grade I listed status of the building itself.

May I take this opportunity to thank you and your staff for the superb job that you have done in working on the tower at Moulton Parish Church. May I speak not only of the excellent craftsmanship of your workmen but also the courtesy and efficiency of their work during the time they spent with us through the autumn. You did a marvellous job of co-ordinating all aspects of the work and for that I am extremely grateful and please pass on my thanks to all your staff involved in this particular project.

In particular I would like to express my appreciation of the superb work done by Mark Crouch. During his time with us, he organised your staff in a brilliant manner and was always helpful in all matters relating to the work of the tower. He also gave us, from time to time, very helpful advice in caring for a grade 1 listed building. Please also pass on our thanks to him.

On behalf of St Faith's Church, I would like to thank you for the excellent work in constructing a new doorway and fitting a new oak door. Would you please pass on our thanks to your craftsmen? I was very pleased also, at the efforts your people made to minimise disruption and dust.

Should you have any enquiries wishing to see examples of your work, we would gladly welcome them here.

Firstly my wife and I congratulate you all on designing and making a stunning fireplace, from a hugely interesting piece of Swaledale stone.

The end result is stunning and we will forever be grateful for the co-operation and workmanship that you all have so willingly given to this project.

I would like to express my and my wife's thanks to your team for the excellent job they have done in repairing and repointing our walls, not to mention repairing our neighbour's garden ornament, and for cleaning up so thoroughly afterwards. On the basis of this experience we will unhesitatingly recommend your company to our neighbours.