Saving the Arch

This Portland Stone Neo - Classical Grade II Listed Archway from 81 Fleet Street was saved by a proposal for its re-use made by the Portland Sculpture & Quarry Trust to the City of London Cooperation who gifted the  Arch to the Trust for its reconstruction as part of the Memory Stones Green Corridor project.

This was achieved through a partnership collaboration between the Portland Sculpture & Quarry Trust, The City of London Corporation,  Eric Parry Architects, Keltbray Construction and PAYE Stonework & Construction, all of whom had a role in the careful planning that was needed to take down the arch to be transported for reconstruction.

Keltbray donated an extra 43 tons of stone from the very top of the building with, ionic capitals, sections of flat fluted column and dental holdings and cornices all of which were worked by hand 101 years ago.   In the words of the Keltbray  articulated Lorry Driver, "This was part of Londons rich architecture.  This stone came out of this quarry for a purpose, was transported all the way to London for a purpose - and has come back after 101 years for a purpose" 

With the Lorry Driver for Dave Bevis Haulage, saying  “I’ve   taken thousands of tons of stone off the island, but this is the first time I have ever brought stone back to the island “ 

The reconstruction of the  arch will be symbolic of the journey of the stone from Portland to London with its relocation at the same level from where the stone would have originally been quarried, offering new opportunities for the future,  it will form a new entrance to the historical 400 year old hand worked quarry environment  of Tout Quarry Sculpture Park & Nature Reserve, becoming a  gateway for the continuation of the heritage skills in stone masonry and carving that were originally used in its construction