Wren’s Great Model: Vision and Conservation

Join Oliver Caroe, Surveyor of the Fabric at St Paul’s, together with Karen Bradford and Monica Yen from the Cathedral’s Collections Team, for a special talk on ‘The Great Model’ – Christopher Wren’s proposed grand design for St Paul’s. 

Oliver Caroe, Surveyor to the Fabric at St Paul’s, will share the history, design, and significance of the Great Model, reflecting on its place within Wren’s architectural vision and its enduring impact on our story. Karen and Monica will share their first-hand insights from the recent Great Model Cleaning Project, completed in March 2026, including some unexpected discoveries revealed along the way.

Their careful conservation work has helped safeguard the model for future generations. Together, they will offer a rare behind-the-scenes perspective on the challenges of caring for such a monumental object, and what the cleaning process uncovered.

Held to coincide with the London Festival of Architecture, the talk celebrates both Wren’s visionary design and the recent Great Model Cleaning Project. Discover the fascinating history, conservation, and enduring legacy of this extraordinary architectural treasure.
 

About the speakers:

Oliver Caroe is one of the UK’s leading conservation architects, specialising in the care and renewal of historic buildings. As Director of Caroe Architecture Ltd, he holds the prestigious role of Surveyor of the Fabric at both St Paul’s Cathedral and York Minster, where he oversees the long  term preservation of two of our country’s most iconic landmarks.

Karen Bradford is our Collections Care Manager. She specialises in collection care and environmental management, and plays a key role in protecting the collection through proactive conservation work, monitoring and improving environmental conditions, developing sustainable policies and supporting conservation projects across our Cathedral.

Monica Yen is currently on placement in our Collections team as part of her Masters in Conservation Care at UCL.