Work on the Abbey

       In the late 1960s Vokes and Becks, a stonemason company based in Winchester which had proudly undertaken the Abbey's work for ten years, discovered whilst repairing the parapet stones on the South West level, that the corbels were structurally unsound and had to renew them, As the original Binstead limestone from the Isle of Wight quarry was no longer available, it was decided to use a Portland stone; it was sound, available. and economially viable. (£40 per corbel)

       Any badly damaged corbels were matched to the originals, but where the corbels had eroded too much, it was left to the stonemasons to create designs of their choosing - as was the tradition. a number ball flower carvings were used as well as portraits. 

A clandestine carving

       During the course of the work, stonemason Harry Burt surreptitiously sculpted a portrait of his boss Mr F.L.'Peter' Wheble into a corbel, it was then incorporated into Table No 2 on the lower South face of the Abbey. (LS2b) on instructions from the initial architect Mr Brookes. 

       The original architects were later replaced following a change in Abbey management. The new achitects used a different company of stonemasons.

Additional information

'Peter' F.L. Wheble. B 1919 - D 2020. was the grandson of Thomas Becks whose daughter Terresa married a Wheble.

The firm of stonemasons 'Vokes and Becks' was originated by Thomas Becks - stonemason, and Jimmy Vokes - letter carver. circa 1900, they had previously worked for Stonemason John Marsh. The firm passed down to grandson 'Peter' Wheble when he was invalided out of the Army in the 1940s and in turn went to his sons Jeremy and Trevor Wheble

(These accounts were given by 'Peter' Wheble in January and March 2015 aged 95.)

(Peter celebrated his 101st birthday in March 2020.

He passed away five months later on 5th August 2020.