(Cambridge) Workers are busy on the roof of the chapel of King’s College, in Cambridge, one of the oldest and most famous in England: they are installing solar panels, to the great excitement of heritage defenders.
The chapel, built by King Henry VI in 1441, is a gem of Gothic architecture, particularly famous for its 16th century stained glass windows. It is part of King’s College, the most prestigious of Cambridge universities.
Every year for Christmas, the BBC broadcasts a concert by the chapel choir. There, time seems to stand still.
But last year, work began to restore the lead roof which had lost its waterproofing. In February, the installation of 438 photovoltaic panels was authorized despite criticism that it would irrevocably damage the “authenticity” and “integrity” of the building.
According to the university, the roof of the chapel is the best place on its site to produce renewable energy. Once installed, the solar panels will generate 123,000 kilowatt hours per year, or 5.5% of the faculty’s electricity demand, she argues.
“When we think about young people and their future, we have to take the climate crisis very seriously,” Stephen Cherry, the dean of the chapel, explains to AFP. “For me, it’s a wonderful opportunity to marry these two things – tradition and the future of being human.”
For Gillian Tett, dean of King’s College, the restoration constitutes a historic moment for the chapel and British architectural heritage.
“It’s only a step on the path to cleaner, greener energy, but it’s a symbol of our commitment to being good managers of our environment,” she pleads.
On the other hand, Historic England, responsible for protecting English heritage, said it was “disappointed” by the decision to install solar panels on the roof of the chapel. “It is one of the most exceptional monuments in England,” said this organization. The panels will “detract from the beauty of the chapel.”
“There are many sites in Cambridge where renewable energy can be produced without causing damage to the outstanding historic character of the city,” Historic England said.
The dark panels blend in with the rest of the roof. But they are “very reflective and they will introduce a very jarring element,” laments John Neale, head of development consultancy at Historic England.
In February, Cambridge City Council’s head of planning recommended that the city refuse the project, saying the panels would undermine the “authenticity and integrity” of the chapel’s architecture.
But the city finally agreed on February 7. The installation of the solar panels should be completed by the end of December.
