North Wall Project

The north wall of the Serra Chapel was rebuilt in the 1920s under the guidance of Father St. John O'Sullivan. (By the early twentieth century, the north end of the chapel, which had collapsed in the 1860s, was basically a mound of earth walled off from the rest of the building.)

In undertaking the 1920s restoration work, Father O'Sullivan sought to rebuild the missing portions of the Serra Chapel not with modern methods, but in the same way the padres and neophytes had originally built the Mission. The new adobe bricks, which were used to rebuild the crumbling walls, were made in the same size and thickness as the old bricks, and the walls were made to the exact thickness of the original walls.

(click on images to see larger view)

The Mission Preservation Team removes the cement plaster with a hammer and chisel, taking care not to damage the adobe underneath.

View of the north wall after removal of the cement plaster. The adobe is in relatively good condition, as is the lime mortar. Note the wood lintel and demarcation of what appears to have been a doorway.

A Mission conservator applies the first coat of plaster, known as the "scratch coat." Unlike the previous finish, this is a lime plaster, which is the preferred finish for adobe buildings, since it allows the structure to "breathe" and accommodates general movement better than cement.

View of the north wall following replastering. In the spring, the Mission Preservation Team will apply a coat of tinted limewash. Given that limewash is a water-based paint, it should not be applied in low temperatures, especially if there is a risk of frost.

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