Workers are hard at work on the roof of the chapel at King's College in Cambridge, one of the oldest and most famous in England, installing solar panels, to the delight of preservationists.
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The 1441 by King Henry VI. The chapel is a jewel of Gothic architecture and is particularly famous for its 16th century stained glass windows. It is part of King's College, Cambridge's most prestigious university.
Every Christmas the BBC broadcasts a concert by the chapel choir. Time seems to stand still there.
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But work began last year to repair the lead roof, which had lost its watertightness. In February, the installation of 438 photovoltaic panels was approved, despite criticism that this would irrevocably compromise the “authenticity” and “integrity” of the building.
According to the university, the roof of the chapel is the best place on the site to produce renewable energy. Once installed, the solar panels will generate 123,000 kilowatt-hours per year, equivalent to 5.5% of the faculty's electricity needs, she argues.
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“When we think about young people and their future, we need to take the climate crisis very seriously,” Stephen Cherry, the chapel’s dean, told AFP. “For me it is a wonderful opportunity to combine these two things – tradition and the future of humanity.”
For Gillian Tett, Dean of King's College, the restoration represents a historic moment for the chapel and Britain's architectural heritage.
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“It is just one step towards cleaner, greener energy, but it is a symbol of our commitment to stewarding our environment well,” she advocates.
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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 extraordinary monuments in England,” said this organization. The panels would “detract from the beauty of the chapel.”
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“Cambridge has many sites where renewable energy can be generated without compromising the city’s outstanding historic character,” Historic England said.
The dark panels blend harmoniously with the rest of the roof. But they are “very thoughtful and will introduce a very contradictory element,” complains John Neale, head of development advice at Historic England.
In February, Cambridge City Council's planning director recommended the city reject the project because the panels would undermine the “authenticity and integrity” of the chapel's architecture.
But on February 7, the city finally gave its approval. The installation of the solar panels is expected to be completed by the end of December.