Phillips & Curry Ltd have recently completed major external fabric repairs to the historic Cambrian Station Buildings in Oswestry. This Grade II listed project involved extensive roofing, masonry, and joinery works, including the installation of 16,000 new slates, full corbel replacement, and specialist stucco restoration.
The Oswestry Cambrian Station building, a Grade II listed structure, is significant heritage asset to the town, Opened in 1866, the station soon served as the railway company's headquarters and was crucial in connecting Oswestry with North Wales, supporting the town’s growth. Passenger services ended in 1966, but the building remains in use as the base of the Cambrian Heritage Railway, now owned by Shropshire Council.
In spring 2022, following an incident involving falling masonry, stakeholders identified the need for urgent fabric repairs. Scaffolding was erected for public safety, and a successful funding bid was secured under the Government’s Leveling Up scheme. A detailed schedule of repairs was prepared, and the project was put to public tender in spring 2024. Phillips & Curry were awarded the contract in early summer, based on the strength of our quality and commercial submission.
Major Restoration Elements
Initial works to make the site safe and workable were the careful removal of approximately 800m² of asbestos slates by local specialists, City Environmental Services, under a strict RAMS protocol. Once removed, our team installed temporary sheeting to protect the exposed roof.
Further surveys were conducted on the station’s 294 Roman cement eaves corbels. While initial conservation was considered, structural testing concluded they were beyond repair. In collaboration with the design team and project engineers, it was agreed all would be replaced. Stevens of Norwich produced site-specific moulds and cast new corbels in Jasmonite – a more durable alternative to the original Roman cement due to the large section size of the corbels. .
To make up for the extended survey period, Phillips & Curry accelerated the programme. Over five months, all corbels were installed, along with new fascia’s, soffits, felt and battens. Large structural truss steel brackets were added to prevent wall spread, and 16,000 new Ffestiniog slates were fitted. Decorative stucco friezes between the corbels were also repaired, with in-house cast replacements for damaged roses and dentils cast on site.
Around 100 sash windows were dismantled, overhauled, redecorated, and reinstated. Decorative surrounds were stripped using fine wet blasting, then repainted in Keim Soldalit breathable mineral paint.
At pavement level, damaged Grinshill stone was replaced with profiled ashlar blocks, and surrounding brickwork was repointed. Final decorations are now underway, with scaffolding removal and full site clearance scheduled for completion in the coming weeks.
Before & After
