To respect planning requirements and ensure consistency with the historic surroundings, handmade red stock bricks were selected. Their natural dimensional variations posed a challenge, but through a series of dry lays at IG Masonry Support’s factory, brick slips were carefully tested and aligned. This process ensured accurate coursing, high-quality finishes, and seamless integration with the surrounding brickwork onsite.
The centrepiece of the Pavilion is a large corbelled arch, measuring 6 metres internally and 7 metres externally. Due to site access constraints, the arch was engineered in three separate sections that were bolted together onsite, with additional slips supplied to cover the joints. The arch itself was not fixed back to the superstructure; instead, stability was achieved through its wide base and careful tying of the surrounding brickwork back to the inner leaf. This approach overcame installation challenges while preserving the architectural integrity of the Pavilion.
Alongside the main feature, seven smaller arches were supplied, including two left-hand bias arches, one right-hand bias arch, and four non-bias arches. Each featured five corbelled reveals, demanding intricate cutting and assembly. With around 185 uniquely cut bricks per arch, precision was critical to achieving the rowlock bond pattern and ensuring alignment with the adjacent brickwork. These arches also required bespoke solutions to support the inner leaf and accommodate varying cavity widths, with secondary masonry arches introduced where necessary to guarantee structural integrity.