Eton
College
A grand pointed arch in Cadeby Limestone for the New School and a glazed Portland stone portal for the Queens Building, delivered alongside CSK Architects.
Project Details
Working alongside CSK Architects, AFJONES delivered intricate stonemasonry across two distinct sites at Eton College: the Queens Building and the New School. The centrepiece of our scope was the fabrication and installation of a grand pointed archway.
This project exemplifies our ability to balance complex traditional stone carving with highly controlled workshop pre-assembly and precise site execution.
Craftsmanship & Material Specification
The Grand
Pointed Arch
For the New School entrance, we crafted a striking pointed arch from Cadeby Limestone. The architectural design required a deeply carved reverse roll profile: a geometrically challenging detail that demanded exceptional skill, patience and precision from our masonry team.
The material choice was highly deliberate. The natural, soft bedding ‘movement’ inherent in the Cadeby Limestone provides a beautiful visual contrast against the surrounding diamond-patterned brickwork, resulting in a chic, refined styling for the new entrance.
Expanding the Scope
The Queens
Building
In addition to the archway and conservation work on the interior courtyard window surrounds, our scope included the Queens Building.
For this secondary site, we delivered a grand entrance glazed portal utilising the distinct, highly durable characteristics of Portland Whitbed and Portland Roach.
Methodology & Site Installation
Workshop
Pre-Assembly
To guarantee accuracy on site, we utilised a meticulous off-site methodology. The entire Cadeby Limestone arch underwent a full mock-up pre-assembly at our workshops, allowing us to inspect every joint and carved profile before dispatching the stone.
Coordinating masonry works alongside main contractors across a historic educational campus requires strict logistical management. By proving the archway in the workshop first, we minimised our required time on site and ensured a highly efficient, predictable installation sequence.
Gallery
Eton College
The Arch Former
Setting the
Stone
The final installation of the pointed arch relied on fundamental masonry principles. The heavy, intricately carved stone sections were precisely set into place over a large, custom-built wooden arch former, carefully supporting the structure until the mortar cured and the arch became self-supporting.
The Eton College project demonstrates the enduring value of specialist stonemasonry. By combining the art of deep, complex hand-carving with the disciplined methodology of off-site pre-assembly, AFJONES delivered elegant architectural statements across one of the country’s most prestigious campuses.
Deep, complex hand-carving paired with the discipline of off-site pre-assembly, delivered across one of the country’s most prestigious campuses.
From the reverse roll profile of the Cadeby Limestone arch to the Portland stone portal at the Queens Building, every element was proven in the workshop before it was set on site.
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