Eves Corner, Danbury, CM3 4QB 01245 225876 info@bakersofdanbury.co.uk
St Mary's Church, Hitchin. Restoration and Re-ordering Programme
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Eves Corner, Danbury, CM3 4QB 01245 225876 info@bakersofdanbury.co.uk
St Mary’s Church, Hitchin – Grade I Listed Church Restoration
Project Overview St Mary's Church
St Mary’s Church is one of Hertfordshire’s largest parish churches and a Grade I listed building dating from the 14th and 15th centuries. Bakers of Danbury carried out an extensive restoration and refurbishment programme while creating modern facilities for worship and community use.
Building Works Programme
The project included:
Heritage Conservation
Failed cement repairs were carefully removed from the historic windows before damaged clunch stone was repaired using hand-carved indents and traditional lime mortars. Stone and flint masonry across the North Aisle was conserved using compatible materials and traditional craftsmanship to protect the building’s long-term condition.
Challenges
Working within a live Grade I listed church required careful planning throughout.
Archaeological excavations uncovered more than 100 burials during the installation of new services, while thick medieval walls demanded specialist techniques to minimise disturbance to the historic structure.
Located within the busy town centre of Hitchin, the church remained fully operational throughout the works. Restricted vehicle access and high public footfall required careful planning of deliveries, material storage, and temporary closures, supported by clear signage and robust safety measures.
Despite these challenges, the church remained open throughout the project.
Community Engagement
Bakers of Danbury supported community engagement by hosting events including Project Progress evenings and a Churchyard Day and Demonstrations involving live stonecutting and guided tours about the restoration process.
The completed scheme has preserved one of Hertfordshire’s most significant parish churches while delivering modern, accessible facilities that will continue to support the congregation and wider community.
This project has been shortlisted in the National Federation of Builders Awards.
Why Choose Bakers of Danbury?
With many years of experience as heritage and conservation building contractors in Essex, Bakers of Danbury delivers high-quality rebuild and projects. We specialise in church and heritage restoration across Essex, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.
Please contact us to discuss your conservation project.
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