Anti-Skate Studs for Holy Site: St Albans Cathedral
Anti-Skate

A Gothic church with ornate stone towers and arched architectural details rises against a blue sky with wispy clouds, photographed from a low angle emphasizing its height. A Gothic church with ornate stone towers and arched architectural details rises against a blue sky with wispy clouds, photographed from a low angle emphasizing its height.

PROJECT: St Albans Cathedral
LOCATION: St Albans, Hertfordshire, UK
SECTOR: Heritage / Religious / Public Realm
APPLICATION: Discreet anti-skate protection for historic masonry
MANUFACTURER: Studmarc
PRODUCTS: Retrofit Anti-Skate Blades
DESIGN STANDARD: Project-specific heritage-sensitive installation
COMPLIANCE / GOVERNANCE: N/A – anti-skate application

Studmarc supplied Retrofit Anti-Skate Blades for St Albans Cathedral to prevent skateboarders from grinding along historic stonework and causing structural and aesthetic damage. The low-profile blades were recessed into the mortar joints, providing a discreet anti-skate solution that protects the heritage masonry while minimising visual impact for visitors.

Project Overview

St Albans Cathedral required a permanent anti-skate solution for the stonework around the Cathedral grounds due to the increasing number of skaters grinding on the masonry. This was causing damage to both the appearance and structure of the walls and planter wall edges.

The site is of vast historical importance to Britain and the Church of England as it is the shrine to Britain’s first saint and the oldest site of continuous Christian worship in the country’s history. Because of this the anti-skate solution needed to be one that didn’t vastly alter the appearance of the masonry and remain a subtle addition to the walls.

The Retrofit Anti-Skate Blade was selected as it’s very slight protrusion from the stone work kept it neatly tucked away, preventing skaters from grinding on the surface while remaining unobtrusive for the many visitors the Cathedral receives daily.

Installation

The retrofit anti-skate blade was installed by utilising a 12″ angle grinder to cut out a hollow in the mortar joints that matched the anti-skate blades rear curve. The hollows were then cleared of dust and debris before epoxy resin was applied, the blades were then inserted and allowed to cure overnight.

Anti Skate Blade installed in a brown mossy wall with a couple walking towards it down a tiled floor, there's a house in the background and hedges on either side of the walkway
A close up of a square anti skate blade with rounded corners installed in the grouting of a brown wall, there is a blurred dog on a lead in the background with parked cars to the right
A close up of an anti skate blade installed in the grouting of a browned concrete wall containing greenery
A close up of an anti skate blade installed in the grouting of a concrete wall with a blurred obscured church entrance in the background
A close up of an anti skate blade installed in the grouting of a concrete wall with a blurred church entrance in the background
An anti skate blade installed in the grouting of a brown concrete wall that curves to the right with grass on its right and tiled paving to the left. There is a blurred woman with a pram and a man with a small dog walking towards the camera

Anti-skate blade used in this project

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