The White Tower and the Perception of Blackening

A survey of the White Tower (at the Tower of London) by the authors assessed perceptions of blackening and the relationship between aesthetic damage and darkening of the stonework due to the deposition of soot. Two questionnaires were used to investigate perception, features, causes, and acceptability of blackening at two elevations (north and south-east) of the White Tower with different degrees of blackening. The first impressions of those surveyed were not so much of dirtiness, as of the grandeur or age of the monument. There was also evidence for a patina being seen as an indicator of antiquity or an element of building character among visitors. It is possible for the blackening of historic buildings to achieve a level of acceptability among visitors. Differences in colour appreciation at the two elevations suggested that it was possible to find a relationship between blackness of the stone walls and opinions that the building was dirty. The results of this work were compared with similar surveys of other monuments (e.g. cathedrals in Norwich, Milan, and Oviedo) and overall they hint that visitors hold fairly consistent attitudes towards dark coloration of building surfaces, which can help when making decisions about cleaning. © 2005 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.