Bioreceptivity and Biodeterioration of heritage - Looking into how microorganisms affect heritage materials.

Heritage Science at Lincoln

Philip Skipper, wearing a hard hat and high visibility vest, working up scaffolding at roof height at Lincoln Cathedral.

Lynda Skipper working in the labs using a hand held pressure sprayer to coat stone samples with an essential oil mix.

At the University of Lincoln, in the Lincoln School of Humanities and Heritage one of our research streams is investigations into bioreceptivity and biodeterioration of stones used in heritage structures. This has led to collaborations with the Diocese of Lincoln and Lincoln Cathedral to characterize the microbiomes of damaged and undamaged limestone and more recently a 4 year funded project with Historic England trying to standardise the way people measure bioreceptivity, as well as looking at some alternatives to the chemical biocides currently used on stone.