The scaffolding has finally come down on a major £3m conservation project at Westminster Abbey's Chapter House.

The English Heritage-led scheme has seen a team of 20 master carvers and stonemasons cleaning and repairing the weather-worn gargoyles, stone floral friezes, flying buttresses and stained glass windows at what is one of the city's oldest buildings and a meeting place for the early House of Commons. In keeping with both medieval tradition and the Victorian reconstruction of the Chapter House in 1866 by architect George Gilbert Scott, 32 new heads have been added to the building's eight pinnacles, replacing those Victorian heads which had become unstable through erosion.

Altogether, there are 64 heads across eight pinnacles, with the new ones being portraits of the people involved in the project. These include the masons and architects, members of the Westminster Abbey clergy and the project team from English Heritage. Four new gargoyles have also been created. Simon Thurley, chief executive of English Heritage said: "The Chapter House is one of England's most interesting and significant monuments, witness to great events in our early history and repository of the nation's history and memories for 300 years.

"I'm proud that English Heritage has been able to secure its future with one of our most comprehensive programmes of conservation ever." Image courtesy of English Heritage