The renovation work, carried out on behalf of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), is the first since the wall at RM Norton Manor gained English Heritage status nearly four

decades ago. 

The 164-feet long Serpentine Wall was built around 1810 to border the sweeping approach to Norton Manor house at Norton Fitzwarren, near Taunton in Somerset. For more than a century, the manor was used as country residence by landed gentry, including the Queen Mother’s uncle the Hon. Francis Bowes Lyon.

This changed during WW2 when the manor became a military base. In 1983 it became RM Norton Manor – the home of 40 Royal Marine Commando. The decorative Serpentine Wall was built between the main entrance of the estate and follows the contours of the woodland bordering the driveway up to the stable clock tower.

The main faces of the intricate yellow gault brick wall are mass brickwork with large decorative brick coping and dog-tooth cornicing, similar to that used in the adjacent stables. The way it sweeps the land and follows the woodland led to its name of the ‘Serpentine Wall’, and it was given a grade II listing by English Heritage in 1985.

The busy military base and the vehicles that use the road next to the wall – which is up to 2 metres high in parts – led to it becoming discoloured and covered in grime, moss, and other biological matter. It also required repointing.

DIO’s industry partner VIVO Defence Services completed the work with its partners Robert Rice Contractors in 15 weeks, cleaning the wall sensitively using a low pressure, chemical-free heated water system before carrying out the repointing work and returning the wall to its original beauty.

Stuart Clerkson, DIO Estate Facilities Manager said:

Norton Manor Camp is nestled into hillside woodland on the outskirts of Norton Fitzwarren and contains three Grade II-listed structures. Being able to carry out cleaning and repairs to The Serpentine Wall allows you to fully appreciate the beauty and craftmanship of the original construction. Following cleaning, the yellow gault bricks glow in the dappled sunlight that falls through the trees that sit above this retaining wall.

The Conservation Stewardship Fund award of £25,000 was matched from the site maintenance budget to enable this restoration to be carried out.

Jerry Moloney, Managing Director at VIVO Defence Services said:

As a facilities management and maintenance provider working solely for the UK military and its partners, we carry out a lot of varied work, whether it’s repairing runways, making military buildings more energy efficient, repairing Service Family Accommodation or providing restoration work to heritage structures.

The MOD is the UK’s second largest landlord and that means there is a lot to do. Renovating the Serpentine Wall at Norton Manor marine camp is certainly an interesting job and helps highlight the huge array of heritage buildings there are across the UK’s military bases and keeping them in good condition is historically important. Well done to our team.