Raking out and repointing request for advice

[Samantha L]

Good evening all, would welcome some advice on my stone wall. We are starting the repointing process in this room, it's a room that is partially below external ground level so suffers with damp issues (we ventilate and use dehumidifiers, previous occupants however did not). The end goal is to bag rub with lime it as we've done in another room.

We decided to remove the old cement that was used previously to hold the radiator to the wall. In removing the first half, on the right of this photo, it has left quite a big void and the stones around it have come loose and will need to be lime mortared back in.

Slightly concerned that the effort to get the old cement out is causing more problems than it is worth so considering a best approach to the cement on the left of the photo. Would welcome any views on:

- potentially leaving the last cement where it is and bag rub around it.

- address the loose stones before going any further by mortaring into place and leaving to set.

- getting the rest of the cement off, and raking out the mortar in the room before starting to re-mortar the stones back in with lime.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[fernicarry]

Almost looks like there has been a rectangular recess there at one time but there isn't a lintel above it unless those thin stones above the recess started life as one piece.

I would get that gap built back up to provide support and consolidate the bits you have already raked out before going any further. Once that's done might as well get the last of the cement off.

 

[Samantha L]

Thanks @fernicarry. I thought that too but not sure what that could have been as there is a large window next to the square space and this is on the corner of the building, so where two external walls meet. There was one a fire at this end of the building but not in that place. Bizarre.