ICCROM Tomb of Barbara Yelverton, Stone Course

TOMB OF BARBARA YELVERTON,
NON CATHOLIC CEMETERY, ROME
Alex Jimbi, Jenny Dickens, Leticia

Raffaele and Markus Santner
ICCROM Stone Conservation Course 2013
Tomb of Barbara Yelverton, Non Catholic Cemetery, Rome

Preliminary examination: 29 – 30 April 2013 Conservation
treatment: 18 – 26 June 2013
Table of contents
Acknowledgments
1. Introduction
2. Historical background
3. Physical context
4. Description
5. Condition
5.1. Decay catalogue
5.2. Condition Assessment – general
6. Condition and Treatment
6.1. General treatments
6.2. Data sheets - condition, treatment and photographs
6.2.1. NW side tomb (inscription)
6.2.2. NE side tomb
6.2.3. SW side tomb (back)
6.2.4. SE side tomb
6.2.5. Roof tomb
6.2.6. Column 1
6.2.7. Column 2
6.2.8. Column 3
6.2.9. Column 4
7. Recommendations
Appendices
8. Location Plan
9. Area plan
10. Documentation methods
11. Condition Mapping
11.1. NW side tomb (inscription)
11.2. NE side tomb
11.3. SW side tomb (back)
11.4. SE side tomb
11.5. Roof tomb
11.6. Column 1
11.7. Column 2
11.8. Column 3
11.9. Column 4
12. Elevations
12.1. Tomb plan
12.2. Elevation NE
12.3. Elevation SE
1
Acknowledgments
We would like to acknowledge a debt to Pablo Maximiliano Cirou Acevedo, who very kindly did a
significant amount of the condition mapping in AutoCAD.
1. Introduction
As part of the ICCROM Stone Conservation Course in 2013, our team of four students from
Argentina, Australia, Austria and Kenya undertook the documentation and conservation of a
nineteenth century tomb with complex marble deterioration and repair issues.
2. Historical background
The tomb commemorates Barbara Yelverton (20 May 1810 – 18 November 1858) who was a
member of the English aristocracy. When she was seven months old her father died and she
became Baroness Grey de Ruthyn in her own right as his only heir. Lady Grey married George
Rawdon-Hastings, 2nd Marquess of Hastings in 1831 and became Barbara Rawdon-Hastings,
Marchioness of Hastings. They had six children together. George Rawdon-Hastings died in 1844 and
in 1845 she married Captain Hastings Reginald Henry RN who took the name Hastings Reginald
Yelverton in 1849. They had one daughter, also called Barbara Yelverton, who is the great-grand
mother of the current Aga Khan1.
Barbara Yelverton/Rawdon-Hastings was a respected scholar of fossils and published on the Eocene
fossil beds in Hampshire in the Report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science
2
(1848) and the London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine (1853) . The palaeontologist
Richard Owen named a crocodile recovered from the Barton Beds at Hordle Cliff in Hampshire
Crocodilus hastingsae to honour "the accomplished lady by whom the singularly perfect example of
the species had been recovered and restored"3 which implies that Barbara undertook excavations
and fossil restorations herself. She also had a very large collection of fossils at her home, Efford
House in Hampshire. Part of Efford House featured in the film of Sense and Sensibility4 as the home
of the Dashwood sisters. She was also said to be fond of foreign travel and gambling.
It has not yet been possible to discover why she was in Rome or how she died. It is also not clear
why her monument uses her maiden name of Barbara Yelverton, as her name when she died seems
to have been Barbara Rawdon-Hastings and she published her academic work under this name, even
after her first husband died. In addition, one line of lettering has been removed from below the
existing inscription. The words removed and the reasons for this are also unknown.
NOTE: The information above has been gained from internet research and should be confirmed by
reference to primary sources.
1
http://thepeerage.com/p1905.htm#i19047. Retrieved 26 April 2013
2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Rawdon-Hastings,_Marchioness_of_Hastings Retrieved 24 April 2013
3
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Rawdon-Hastings,_Marchioness_of_Hastings Retrieved 24 April 2013
4
http://www.flete.co.uk/cottages/efford-house/ Retrieved 26 April 2013
1
Barbara Rawdon Hastings (née Yelverton),
Marchioness of Hastings by Thomas Anthony
Dean, published by George Byron Whittaker,
published by Martin Colnaghi, after Emma
Eleanora Kendrick. Stipple engraving, published
October 1828. NPG D18118. © National Portrait
Gallery, London5
Crocodilia — Crocodilus Hastingsiæ, half the nat. size. Fig. 1. Side view of the skull. Fig. 2. Under view
of the cranial and facial parts of ditto. From A History of British Fossil Reptiles, Vol. II.6
5
http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portraitLarge/mw69993/Barbara-Rawdon-Hastings-ne-Yelverton-
Marchioness-of-Hastings Retrieved 24 April 2013
6
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/books/britfossils/html/txu-oclc-13370987-2-crocodilians-plate01B.php Retrieved
23 April 2013
2
3. Physical context
Location - Zona Vecchia, Row 4, no. 1
Traffic
- The monument is located close to the toilet, shop and the doorway into the Zona Antica.
- It is the first monument at the end of the first hedge and next to one of the larger paths and
one wall.
- Due to this position and as a large tomb the tomb of Barbara Yelverton is likely to be more
visible and so more highly visited than smaller and less visible tombs.
Drainage
- The tomb is located on a hill (as is the rest of the cemetery).

- From the build-up of soil we observed on the monument it appears that a lot of the water
and soil that runs down the main path is caught against the NE side and east corner of the
monument.
- The shape of the roof of the monument means that water that falls onto the roof of the
tomb drains down each of the four corners.
Vegetation
- There is low vegetation in the rows of graves in front of and behind the monument.
- There is one large Cyprus tree directly next to pole 2 (south corner of the monument).
- There is a row of three large Cyprus trees further away on the South East side.
- The behaviour of Cyprus roots in this cemetery should be researched to determine if these
pose a risk to the monument.
- Due to time constraints it is not possible to fully document the daily and seasonal positions
of shade, sun and rain exposure that these trees and the wall create on the monument. The
presence of black crust indicates that a number of areas of the tomb are sheltered from
direct washing.
Fauna
- Ants seen on the monument and appear to be living inside.

- Cats, earthworms and birds also inhabit the cemetery but do not appear to be impacting the
monument.
3
4. Description
A rectangular, classical, temple style tomb
Structure
- Bottom level or base - Three slabs of Travertine forming the base of the monument, square
edges, no mortar in joints (not fully visible as partially buried in soil)
- Second level - Three slabs of Travertine, square edges, no mortar in joints
- Third level – One slab of marble with square edges
- Fourth level - One slab of marble with rounded edges tapering inwards
- Fifth level or tomb
o Two solid vertical pieces of marble which form the ends of the monument and
where the carving of the torches is located. Measurements appear on the drawings,
section 12.
o The centre of this level consists of two sheets of marble of unknown thickness which
enclose the hollow interior. Measurements appear on the drawings, section 12.
- Sixth level or lintel – One solid piece of marble carved with fluting
- Seventh level or roof – One solid piece of marble carved into a roof with raised corners and a
low pointed roof and end pediments.
- Interior – was not examined but appeared to contain earth and iron and probably masonry
materials.
Posts – Four posts each made of one piece of vertically bedded solid Travertine at each corner of the
tomb. The top of each post is rounded. Each originally had four square holes, two on each side to
carry a double row of chains.
Inscription on north-west side:

SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
BARBARA YELVERTON
BARONESS GREY DE RUTHYN
MARCHIONESS OF HASTINGS
BORN AT BRANDON WARWICKSHIRE
20 MAY 1810
DIED AT ROME 18 NOVEMBER
1858
Materials
Stone
- The main monument consists of six layers of stone, the majority being white marble.
- The top four layers have the appearance of Carrara marble as it is very white with faint grey
lines.
- The designs are carved from solid stone into the two solid vertical sections of marble.
- The lowest two levels are made of vertically bedded Travertine.
- There are four posts made of vertically bedded Travertine on each of the north, south, east
and west corners.
4
Metals
- The inscription on the north-west side is made from lead which appears to have been
hammered into groves incised in the stone.
- There are remains of iron and lead in some of the holes in the posts.
- Thin fragments of lead are visible between the sheets of marble and adjoining marble on the
forth level.
Decoration
- The monument is very simple in design with little exterior decoration.
- The only decoration present are four carved designs one on either side of the inscription on
the NW side and on either side of the blank panel on the SW side. All four carved designs are
exactly the same and consist of the following:
o One inverted torch in each of the area. The inverted torch is often used in cemetery
monuments to represent a life extinguished.
o There is a bow at the top of each torch with a central circle and with ribbons
extending down on each side of the torch
o Below the loop of each bow is a carved sprig of Cyprus with cones. Cyprus was
known as the “mourning tree” and was widely planted in cemeteries and used on
monuments.
Other features
- The lower edge of the underside of the roof has a groove carved to drain water
- The holes for the chains originally contained iron pins surrounded by lead.
5
5.1 Catalogue of stone decay found on the tomb
Crust
Black crust:
Black crust
Brown crust:
6
Cracks
Needle and fragments from

the Cypress trees
Eroded sugary surface and

biological growth
7
Sugary surface
Biological growth
Water flow with biological
growth
Biological growth with pins

and dust on the bottom of the
tomb.
8
Large holes in the travertine
and biological growth
Metall behind the stone plate
Lead plugs below the

inscription showing missing
inscription
9
5.2 Condition assessment - general
Biological Growth
 There is a black layer of biological growth identified as cyanobacteria on all exposed areas i.e.
pediment, and lowest three levels.
 Under magnification small yellow lichen plants are visible on the roof.
 A tough leathery white lichen is growing on the tops of some columns
 Exposed roughened areas of carving and corners have a pinkish appearance which may also be
biological growth
Monument - Accretions
• Needles, resin and fragments from the Cyprus trees collect heavily on the roof and other
vertical surfaces
• Dirt and pine needles have built up on the north east and north sides covering the bottom
level and most of the second bottom level of the monument in this area
Monument - Deterioration
• Thick black crust appears on the sheltered areas of the carved sections.
• Thinner black crust appears on sheltered areas directly under the eaves of the roof
• Heavily sugared areas were found underneath the thick black crust on the raised areas of the
carving.
• The marble is eroded, roughened and slightly sugary on all the corners of the carved section
and behind the carving.
• The marble is in very white, undamaged condition on the outer corners of the marble base.
• The corners immediately below the roof is very white where the water flows
• There are some lowered, sugaring areas on the bottom edge of the roof which appear to be
where the water running through the grooves collects as drops and dissolves the stone.
• A number of areas of the carving are concave or vertical and hold water for long periods, this
would have led to some of the sugaring
Columns
• The double rows of metal chains or railing which are assumed to have stretched from each
post are no longer present. These may have been removed during WWII for using during the
war effort or may have corroded and been removed for that reason.
• Some of the posts have been damaged by corrosion of the metal fastening which would have
held the chains/rails.
• The top of each post is worn probably from dissolution of the marble.
• There are number of large holes in the travertine
• There are remains of iron in some holes which have the potential to corrode and further
damage the stone
10
6.1 General Treatments
Cleaning
Tree debris and dirt was removed from the monument by dry bushing many times
17 days after first biocide treatment the surface of the stone was brushed with sponges, nylon
brushes and tap water to remove ingrained dirt and the top layer of dead biological growth. Some
loose grains of marble were removed by this treatment.
The lowest two layers of travertine and lowest layer of marble were cleaned with pressurised water
which removed further dirt and biological growth
Biological Control
Biocide was applied by brush to the whole monument as follows:

• 3% w/v Biotin T in white spirits applied on 27 May 2013
• 3% w/v Biotin T in water applied twice on 14 June 2013
• 3% w/v Biotin T in water applied 26 June 2013
It is expected that the biological growth will gradually die and the stone will lighten over time.
Cleaning black crust - Poultice testing
All poultices were covered in clear plastic film to retard drying. For the dryer poultices it was
necessary to attach the plastic to the tomb with masking tape.
 A poultice of tap water in Arbocel (paper pulp) was applied to the black crust for one hour. This
was not effective.
 A second poultice of 5% w/w ammonium carbonate in tap water in Arbocel (paper pulp) was
applied to the black crust for one hour. This was slightly effective.
 A third poultice of 10% w/w ammonium carbonate in tap water in Arbocel (paper pulp) was
applied to the black crust for one hour. This was somewhat effective.
 A fourth poultice of saturated ammonium carbonate in tap water (18g + 100ml water = 15.25%)
in Arbocel (paper pulp) was applied to the black crust for one hour. This was effective on areas
of thin compact black crust. However it delivered a large amount of liquid to the sugared areas
under the heavy black crusts on the carved areas. This led to small areas crumbling.
 A fifth poultice of saturated ammonium carbonate in tap water in a mixture of sepiolite and
fumed silica was tested on heavy black crust of carved areas as it had less water.
 A sixth poultice of saturated ammonium carbonate in tap water in fumed silica was tested on
heavy black crust of carved areas. It carried even less water and was effective in softening the
black crust without delivering excess water to the fragile areas. In general the fragile stone were
damp rather than wet during treatment by this poultice.
Cleaning black crust – poultices selected
A. Saturated ammonium carbonate in tap water (18g + 100ml water = 15.25%) in Arbocel
(paper pulp) was used for areas of thin, flat, compact black crust overnight. The stone was
cleaned with nylon and hair bristle brushes to remove crust and rinsed.
B. Saturated ammonium carbonate in tap water in fumed silica was used to soften black crust
on the carved sugared areas and left overnight. The softened and flaking crust was removed
with soft hair brushes, picks and scalpel.
11
Before treatment.
After treatment.
12
6.2 Condition and Treatment data sheets
6.2.1 North West Side of tomb (inscription)
Stone type(s) Travertine and marble
Hardware/metal  Lead letters set into incised grooves in the stone.
 A thin layer of white lead carbonate appears on the top two rows
of letters corresponding to the location of the black crust.
 Thin shims of lead between some layers of stone
 There are some lead plugs below the inscription. There is no
engraved letters so these may be the remains of a metal
decoration. Some of the plugs are covered with a white material
and some appear to have lost this
Condition (in addition to  One hole approx. 5mm in diameter behind the second loop of the
general condition inner section carved ribbon on the North corner
above)  Many carved areas were fragile and sugaring
 Once the area was cleaned an iron stain appeared on the base of
the central panel
Biological growth  As specified in general condition assessment
Biological control  As specified in general treatment section
Cleaning, general  As specified in general treatment section
Cleaning, black crust  The area of compact black crust on the top of the central flat
panel was cleaned with several applications of poultice A
 The areas of heavy black crust on the carved areas were initially
cleaned with several applications of poultice A however some
stone crumbled due to excess water
 The areas of heavy black crust on the carved areas were then
cleaned with several applications of poultice B which was
successful
 Laser cleaning was used on some areas and was successful
Consolidation  Small areas of damaged stone were consolidated with Fluoline HY
(fluorinated elastomer) to hold the grains of stone together
during the consolidation
 The protruding carved details were consolidated with one coat
Remmers 510 (ethyl silicate) to hold the grains of stone together
 The whole carved area was consolidated with one coat Remmers
510 (ethyl silicate) to hold the stone together
 The ethyl silicate bled onto the surrounding areas somewhat
Repairs  None done
Monitoring  Monitor condition of the fragile carving
recommendations  Fill the hole and other areas where water collects with a small
amount of lime mortar.
13
6.2.1 North West Side of tomb (inscription)
Before treatment.
After treatment.
14
6.2.2 North East side of tomb
Hardware/metal  None
Condition (in addition to  Once the area was cleaned an iron stain appeared on the top flat
general condition area
above)

Consolidation  The whole carved area on the front and back was consolidated
with one coat Remmers 510 (ethyl silicate) to hold the stone
together and some bled onto this side
Monitoring
recommendations
Before treatment. After treatment.
15
6.2.3 South West Side of tomb (back)
Condition (in addition to  Many carved areas were fragile and sugaring
general condition  Once the area was cleaned an iron stain appeared on the base of
above) the central panel
 The areas of heavy black crust on the carved areas were initially
cleaned with several applications of poultice A however some
stone crumbled due to excess water
 The areas of heavy black crust on the carved areas were then
cleaned with several applications of poultice B which was
successful
 Laser cleaning was used on some areas and was successful
Consolidation  Small areas of damaged stone were consolidated with Fluoline HY
(fluorinated elastomer) to hold the grains of stone together
during the consolidation
 The protruding carved details were consolidated with one coat
Remmers 510 (ethyl silicate) to hold the grains of stone together
 The whole carved area was consolidated with one coat Remmers
510 (ethyl silicate) to hold the stone together
 The ethyl silicate bled onto the surrounding areas somewhat
Monitoring  Monitor condition of the fragile carving
recommendations  Fill areas where water collects with a small amount of lime
mortar.
16
6.2.3 South West Side of tomb (back)
Before treatment.
After treatment.
17
6.2.4 South East Side of tomb
Condition (in addition to
general condition
above)

Consolidation  The whole carved area on the front and back was consolidated
with one coat Remmers 510 (ethyl silicate) to hold the stone
together and some bled onto this side
Monitoring
recommendations
Before treatment. After treatment.
18
6.2.5 Roof
Stone type(s) Marble
Hardware/metal None
Condition (in addition to general condition) Roughened
Biological growth As specified in general condition assessment
Biological control As specified in general treatment section
Cleaning, general As specified in general treatment section
Repairs None
Before treatment.
.Before treatment
After treatment.
19
6.2.6 Column 1
Stone type(s) Travertine

Hardware/metal  Lead and iron
Condition (in addition to  NW side – top hole is present with loss above and the lower hole
general condition is present with a fragment of lead sheet inside
above)  SW side has a large area of loss from the area of the top hole with
some lead in the lower hole
Repairs  Holes filled with Mortar recipe: 3 Sand : 1 Lime (river sand,
marmo giallo 00 and marmo bianco carrara)
Monitoring
recommendations
6.2.7 Column 2

Condition (in addition to  It has split vertically in the past which has been repaired with
general condition mortar
above)  SE side – top and bottom holes appear to have been lost – mortar
fill present
 SW side – the top hole has been filled with mortar and the hole is
hardly visible. The bottom hole is empty
Monitoring
recommendations
6.2.8 Column 3

Condition (in addition to  SE side – Top hole filled with mortar, bottom hole empty
general condition  NE side – Top hole filled with mortar, bottom hole filled with lead
above)  B elevation had epoxy used to join now missing part
Monitoring
recommendations
20
6.2.9 Column 4

Condition (in  NE side – top hole present and empty, lower hole is present with loss
addition to and some lead present
general condition  SE side – top hole has a square travertine plug and lower hole has some
above) iron visible
Repairs Removal of old repairs
 Removing half part of the column
 Removing the old mortar
 Cutting the old metal pin
 Drilling the old metal pin out from the stone
Mortar repairs
 Filling big holes with lime mortar on the column
 Mortar recipe: 3 Sand : 1 Lime (river sand, marmo giallo 00 and marmo
bianco carrara)
Glue three pieces of the half column together
 Drilling holes for the pins
 For pins we used fibre glass and for the glue we used epoxy.EPI-150
 For each peace we used one pin (in total 2)!
Reattach the half column to the tomb
 Glue the half part of the column with 2 polyester adhesive
 There was no necessity to pin this part again because the strength for
this second column part is very low. The half column is standing on the
base of the column.
 The crack was filled in with lime mortar.
 Between the two stone parts was a 1-3 mm thick crack. We decided not
to grout this column because there should be place for evaporating
water. It was important was to fill the crack with lime mortar so that no
dust and water can go inside.
Monitoring Monitor to see if tree roots are causing movement of this column
21
Before treatment. During work. After treatment.
7. Recommendations
Drainage
It is suggested that the cemetery should construct a water gulley/drain that will direct water
to the existing chamber this will avoid water stagnating at the tomb base as well as reduce
deposit of dirt and sand which cover the base.
Consolidation
After the biological growth has reduced the whole of the monument should be consolidated
with ethyl silicate
Monitor
The fragile carved decoration should be monitored as there is danger of pieces being lost if
the consolidant is degraded over time. Losses and areas where water collects should be
filled with a compatible inorganic fill material.
8. Documentation methods
For the documentation and register of the decay, we used rectified photographs (processed with
software “Perspective Rectifier”), Photoshop and AutoCad for the mapping.
22
9. Location Plan
10. Area plan.
Tomb is in Row 4, Tomb No. 1, Zone vecchia.
23
11. Condition Mapping (9 sheets)
24
12 Elevations (3 sheets)
25
This file was generated with an evaluation version of the Amyuni(r) PDF Converter : http://www.amyuni.com
Team- Leticia V. RAFFAELE

Jennifer A. DICKENS
Markus SANTNER
0,94
Alex K. JIMBI
0,23
STONE CONSERVATION COURSE - SC13

MAPPING - TOMB OF BARBARA YELVERTON
Location - Zona Vecchia , Row 4, no,1 -
0,75
Non Catholic Cemetary , Rome
0,7
SIDE N.E
0,22 1,02 0,22
Drg No. 01
Date- 23/06/2013
Ele N.E

Jennifer A. DICKENS
Markus SANTNER
Alex K. JIMBI

S.E
1 4 MAPPING - TOMB OF BARBARA YELVERTON
0,15
0,96
N.E S.W
0,15
2 3
N.W
1,79
PLAN LAYOUT Drg No. 01

Date- 23/06/2013
plan

Jennifer A. DICKENS
Markus SANTNER
1,76
Alex K. JIMBI

0,23
MAPPING - TOMB OF BARBARA YELVERTON

SIDE S.E
0,22 1,85 0,22
Drg No. 01
Date- 23/06/2013
Ele S.E

ICCROM Tomb of Barbara Yelverton, Stone Course

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TOMB OF BARBARA YELVERTON,

NON CATHOLIC CEMETERY, ROME

Alex Jimbi, Jenny Dickens, Leticia

Tomb of Barbara Yelverton, Non Catholic Cemetery, Rome

- The tomb is located on a hill (as is the rest of the cemetery).

- Ants seen on the monument and appear to be living inside.

Inscription on north-west side:

Needle and fragments from

Eroded sugary surface and

Biological growth with pins

Metall behind the stone plate

Lead plugs below the

Biocide was applied by brush to the whole monument as follows:

Cleaning black crust - Poultice testing

Cleaning black crust – poultices selected

Before treatment. After treatment.

Before treatment. After treatment.

Stone type(s) Travertine

Stone type(s) Travertine

Stone type(s) Travertine

Stone type(s) Travertine

10. Area plan.

Tomb is in Row 4, Tomb No. 1, Zone vecchia.

Team- Leticia V. RAFFAELE

STONE CONSERVATION COURSE - SC13

0,22 1,02 0,22

Team- Leticia V. RAFFAELE

STONE CONSERVATION COURSE - SC13

PLAN LAYOUT Drg No. 01

Team- Leticia V. RAFFAELE

STONE CONSERVATION COURSE - SC13

MAPPING - TOMB OF BARBARA YELVERTON

0,22 1,85 0,22

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