The Tower of London, St Peter-ad-Vincula
Observations requested by the Diocese of London in relation to Installation of a lift at the entrance of the Chapel of ST Peter Ad Vincula to make it universally accessible. The proposal is to widen the existing stairwell at the western and main entrance of the Chapel and install a bespoke stair lift in half of the widened area of the entrance while retaining the other half as steps. The enabling works include lifting the stone paving, steps, railings and dismantling the retaining all before excavating to form the lift pit. Excavation of the footprint of the lift will then be carried out by a team of professional archaeologists. Following the sterilisation of the footprint of the lift of any burials and archaeological remains, a new concrete lift pit will be formed to sit the new lift in and the stone steps and paving will be reinstated. The work also involves necessary service connections like power and drainage. In addition, minor adaptations to the Crypt in the form of an accessible ramp to make the Crypt accessible and upgrade the door between the crypt and Chapel to create a secondary refuge point are being carried out. Considering the burials that may be exhumed during the excavation and the current ossuary nearly out of space, a new ossuary is also being proposed in the Crypt to respectfully re-inter the human remains into the chapel Crypt.