In 2012 Consurv Ltd. received instructions from Fortnum & Mason to carry out a detailed building survey due to water ingress and mould elements being discovered in the building. This consultation and building survey had taken the form of an appraisal of the structure, both internally and externally. Consurv produced a Detailed Building Assessment Report along with a Thermal Images Report to identify the extent of defects throughout the London based Fortnum and Mason building. The detailed assessment report and associated drawings enabled the remedial works to be carried out to a high standard and to ensure that nothing was taken away from the building's historical character and the original detail and historical features were preserved.
Condition Survey
After a detailed building analysis we were able to advise on specific Remedial works and mould analysis in the best interest of the buildings structure and safety. We found mould issues that had complex causal issues and with valued engineering were able to advise on the most cost effective remedy. Our building pathology revealed that there was no single issue that caused the mould but an array of roofing, guttering, stonework and window issues that each had a part in causing the water ingress.
Building History
The company was founded in 1707 when William Fortnum and Hugh Mason set up a small grocery shop together in Duke Street with money Mason had earned selling partly used candles (a perk of his job as footman in charge of refilling candlesticks in Queen Anne's Royal Household).
It became so successful that in 1756 F&M moved to a site in the heart of Piccadilly and to this day still occupies. The F&M building is a five floored department store that focuses on food (three of the five floors are dedicated to food). Fortnum and Mason is famous for certain signatures such as their hampers, own brand teas and preserves, Knickerbocker glories in the Parlour Restaurant and afternoon tea in the Saint James Restaurant, overlooking the city. The building itself is distinctive. Decorative glass doors lead to a red carpet that takes you through the five floored building. The famous Duke Street winding staircase corkscrews its way through the centre of the building.
In 1964 Fortnum and Mason built a huge, ornate clock to grace the outside of their Piccadilly home. Every hour four foot high mechanical replicas of the original Mr. Fortnum and Mr. Mason emerge and bow to each other to the sound of chimes and authentic 18th century music. The clock is massive, weighing in at over 4 tonnes.