Whitechapel Library – formerly St Philip’s Church, built in 1818 – is a Grade II listed building used by QMUL students as a study space and research library. Beardwell was appointed to carry out essential maintenance and repair works to the roof and façade, keeping the library open and its students undisturbed throughout.

Our Approach

We erected scaffolding on all elevations to access the roof, including the spire. Brick and stone repairs were completed across the building, and damaged black Welsh slate was replaced along with lead flashings, using traditional heritage methods throughout. Inside, stone cleaning removed staining caused by water ingress.

We established an early relationship with Historic England during the tender period – before we were even on site – to understand their priorities and seek guidance. That relationship strengthened as the project progressed, with regular contact, site visits and open communication building valuable trust that demonstrated we were committed to protecting the building.

The Challenge

The library stayed open, so all cleaning and repair work had to be carefully contained. Water overspray from the stone cleaning was managed by fully enclosing the working areas. Being right in the heart of Whitechapel, next to the London Hospital, created delivery and access problems. We got permission from the NHS to use adjoining land, avoiding disruption in a busy area. Permissions from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets were sought and extended at every stage. In addition, regular liaison and communication with Library staff ensured that there were no complaints

What We Delivered

• Scaffolding to all elevations including the spire
• Brick and stone repairs across the full building
• Replacement of damaged Welsh slate and lead flashings using heritage methods
• Internal stone cleaning to remove water ingress staining
• Ongoing liaison with Historic England throughout
• Access and delivery logistics coordinated with the NHS and Tower Hamlets
• Numerous costing exercises to validate the client’s budget

This was a careful, considerate project on a building that has served its community for over 200 years.