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St Mary's Church, Dunamore

Dunamore, Co. Tyrone, NI
Stronghold Preservation were instructed to inspect and make recommendations, as the church was suffering from fairly severe damp problems, which was also causing wood rot. Cracks in the masonry were also causing concern.


  • During major renovations, damp, structural cracks & wet rot were found. Newlath damp proof membrane was installed, truss timber repairs were carried out, and cracks were repaired using cintec anchors; Co. Tyron, Northern Ireland, NI 
  • Newlath damp proof membrane is flexible, and can be fitted around decorative and curved items, at St Mary's Church, Dunamore, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, NI 
  • Newlath damp proof membrane is flexible, and can be fitted around decorative items, at St Mary's Church, Dunamore, Co. Tyrone, NI 
  • The timbers affected with wet rot have been removed from the existing trusses, and a new portion of timber spliced on, using timber resin splice repair method, at Dunamore, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland 
  • The Newlath damp proof membrane was installed up to 5metres high, to alleviate the penetrating damp problem, at Dunamore, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland, NI 
  • The Newlath damp proof membrane was installed up to 5metres high, to alleviate the penetrating damp problem, at Dunamore, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland, NI 
  • The walls are cut stone faced, but within the depth of the walls, they are void and rubble stone filled. This necessitated the use of both diamond drilling, and Cintec anchors for structural repair, at Dunamore, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland, NI 
  • The stone faced walls are rubble and void filled. This necessitated the use of both diamond drilling, and Cintec anchors for structural repair, at Dunamore, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland, NI 
  • The finished church: Newlath membrane applied to walls; wood rot removed from trusses; trusses repaired & spliced; and structural repairs carried out, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland, NI 
  • The stone faced walls are rubble and void filled. This necessitated the use of both diamond drilling, and Cintec anchors for structural repair, at Dunamore, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland, NI 
  • During major renovations, damp, structural cracks & wet rot were found. Newlath damp proof membrane was installed, truss timber repairs were carried out, and cracks were repaired using cintec anchors; Co. Tyron, Northern Ireland, NI 
  • Newlath damp proof membrane is flexible, and can be fitted around decorative and curved items, at St Mary's Church, Dunamore, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, NI 
  • Newlath damp proof membrane is flexible, and can be fitted around decorative items, at St Mary's Church, Dunamore, Co. Tyrone, NI 
  • The timbers affected with wet rot have been removed from the existing trusses, and a new portion of timber spliced on, using timber resin splice repair method, at Dunamore, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland 
  • The Newlath damp proof membrane was installed up to 5metres high, to alleviate the penetrating damp problem, at Dunamore, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland, NI 
  • The Newlath damp proof membrane was installed up to 5metres high, to alleviate the penetrating damp problem, at Dunamore, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland, NI 
  • The walls are cut stone faced, but within the depth of the walls, they are void and rubble stone filled. This necessitated the use of both diamond drilling, and Cintec anchors for structural repair, at Dunamore, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland, NI 
  • The stone faced walls are rubble and void filled. This necessitated the use of both diamond drilling, and Cintec anchors for structural repair, at Dunamore, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland, NI 
  • The finished church: Newlath membrane applied to walls; wood rot removed from trusses; trusses repaired & spliced; and structural repairs carried out, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland, NI 

Further Information


Damp Problems
The main, historic, church had penetrating damp around the window reveals, and at corners of the building. This damp appeared to be caused by poor pointing to the front gable wall, and poor pointing around the stone copings at roof level. Faulty lead flashings to the tower appeared to be causing penetrating damp patches on the side wall. It was suggested that, in addition to repairing the lead flashings, that a Newton Newlath damp proof membrane be fitted to a height of 5metres. The modern extensions were also found to be experiencing rising damp problems; it was decided that an Electro Osmosis Damp Proof Course be installed in these areas.

Timber Repairs
The penetrating damp, having made the walls damp, resulted in the truss and purlin ends (which were bedded in the walls) becoming affected by wet rot, and needing replaced. As the trusses are visible in the main church, the affected truss ends were repaired by cutting out and replacing with treated reclaimed pitch pine, and resin bonded with hidden bars (timber resin splice). The purlin ends, as they are not aesthetically important, were spliced with pitch pine and surface bolted with steel plates.

Structural repairs
Cintec anchors were installed in the stone bell tower to strengthen and stabilise it. The stone walls of the church are ashlar faced stone; however, the depth of the walls are filled with rubble stone and large voids, necessitating the use of diamond drilling.

St Mary's Church, a grade B listed Victorian stone church, built in the Gothic revival style in 1871, is a prominent building in the small settlement of Dunnamore, near Cookstown. The main church building is constructed from rubble sandstone, with dressed ashlar sandstone. There have been two extensions: the rear, cavity walled brick extension; and the front porch, faced in reconstituted stone.