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The Changing Façade of Magdalen College, Oxford: Reconstructing Long-Term Soiling Patterns from Archival Photographs and Traffic Records

2005; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 11; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/13556207.2005.10784944

2326-6384

Mary J. Thornbush, Heather Viles,

Conservation Techniques and Studies

Most studies in the area of stone soiling and decay research focus on relatively short periods, usually less than ten years. This study attempts to consider changes over a century using archival photographs, and to relate them to changes in traffic-related air pollution as recorded in surveys and monitoring data. The façade of Magdalen College is an often-photographed component of Oxford's cultural heritage. Its location adjacent to Magdalen Bridge, which is a major traffic artery into Oxford, makes it vulnerable to traffic-related pollution. Traffic surveys reveal a recent decline in traffic, dating from around the time of the Oxford Transport Strategy, only partly matched by nitrogen dioxide reductions. The photographic records show the façade of Magdalen College to be blackened well before traffic became a serious threat. The study illustrates the problems of the archival record, but also its value in providing some insight into long-term changes in air pollution and the consequences for cultural heritage.