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| Home > Preservation > Current & Recent Projects > Carter Tombs > Judith Armistead Carter Tomb > Removing the Mortar | |
| Judith Armistead Carter Tomb: Removing the Mortar | |
 As part of their inital evaluations on JAC's tomb, and to determine if the top indeed had to come off (to facilitate the repointing of mortar joints), conservators from Tidewater Preservation begin to chip away mortar in the open joints adjoining the corners and panels. Here Greg Cowan works on the joint between the northwest corner and west panel (cast replica). Notice how the wide north panel does not align flush with the northeast and northwest corner pieces. Also of note is the large crack running the width of the north panel. |
 The removal of the mortar brings the open joint into full relief. Contrast the texture and appearance of the cast cementitious replica west panel with the original oolitic limestone corner on the northwest. |
 With the top removed, E.J. Benedict (left), Fred Ecker (middle), and Greg Cowan begin to chip away at the layer of mortar applied to help hold the replica tops during their installation in 1980. |
 Fred Ecker uses a small saw to cut through the mortar as the team works to break up the area around the southwest corner. |
 The layer of mortar rests atop an interior core of bricks initially constructed during the restoration work of 1927 to help support the tomb's panels and corners. Work undertaken on the tombs again in the 1960s and 1980s included repairs to this inner brick core. The actual coffin of Judith Armistead Carter lies in the ground under the stone platform. |
 The mortar surrounding each of the four panels and four corners in JAC’s tomb had to be chipped and cut away. The area where the southwest corner stood helps reveal the relationship between the panels/corners and the mortar and inner brick core. |
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