Zinc for restoration of victorian bandstand

Refurbishment of bandstand, believed to be largest of its type remaining in the UK, involved manufacture of bespoke, 62-section zinc roof and central finial by manufacturers VM Zinc.

Use of zinc as the preferred roofing material for English Heritage "at risk" structure.

Grade II listed Product significance: 62 section bespoke manufacture Manufacturer: VM Zinc (Umicore) Refurbishment of the Grade II listed bandstand on Clapham Common, believed to be the largest of its type remaining in the UK, has involved manufacture of a bespoke, 62-section zinc roof and central finial by manufacturers VM Zinc.

The greater part of the original structure was retained, though the railings are thought to have been replaced in the late 40's as a consequence of wartime requisitioning.

Having fallen into serious disrepair, the bandstand had been placed on English Heritage's 'Greater London Buildings at Risk' list in 1995.

Designed by architect Thomas Blashill, architect to the London County Council, it was erected in 1890 and cost GBP598, a replica of two built in 1861 to a design by Captain Francis Fowke for the RHS South Kensington Gardens (on a site now bounded by The Natural History Museum and the Royal Albert Hall).

Among factors affecting zinc's specification by architects Dannatt Johnson were its resistance to corrosion, weight and VM Zinc's ability to meet complex roof design requirements.

This followed many similar heritage restorations throughout Europe.

1:1 roof replication was undertaken, subsequent manufacture being divided into sections for cutting and shaping.

Plaster prototypes were also used to create drilled sections and to design the punching moulds.

The main supporting timbers remained in good condition, so a finely crafted curved wooden structure was built to support the zinc covering, installed by specialist contractor T and P Roofing of Stanford-le-Hope.

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