15/06/2026
15. Resurfacing works
Once the Ceremonial Gateway is complete we will be ready to resurface the entire temple car park. This will involve stripping away the existing top tarmac surface and disposing of it, then relevelling all the drain covers and laying the new tarmac surface. This will then complete the disabled access to the new hall by ramping up to the main doors.
As part of this work we will also create the eight external Sima stone chambers. These are formed using wide diameter vertical tubing capped with stainless steel recessed manhole covers. The reason for this is that we can then complete the surfacing works and leave the manhole covers in place until such time as we are ready to hold the enshrinement ceremony for the Sima stones.
Each cover will be filled with a resin and capped with a stainless steel plate engraved with the eight spoked Dhamma Wheel, and one of the Eightfold Path virtues, which are the foundations of the Buddhist path to enlightenment. This means that as we circumambulate, or walk three times around the hall, we will be reminded of these virtues.
We aim to complete all this work before the end of the year, as we need to work around the main monastic events at the temple.
The works to the temple hall will then be complete, other than the fitting of all the decorative items that are currently being manufactured in Thailand. But we aren’t stopping there … we have another development project in mind, and are currently completing the detailed designs. Once we have these we will be able to estimate construction costs, and then apply for planning permission. If this is granted we will then seek grant funding which can take many months, but the results will make some significant improvements to the temple. More on this as we move forward with the ideas.
We hope very much that you’ve enjoyed this series of posts describing the design details of the new hall, if you have any questions or comments please let us know.
With Metta (loving kindness)
Wat Phra Singh UK
