My local builder, name of O'Keefe, removed my living room chimney breast without causing a tenth of a millimeter of movement in the bedroom one above it.
Funny you should say that as something similar happened when my builder cut through my lounge wall (brick) to the extension he'd just completed. He was so accurate that once the doorframe was in he didn't even have to repaint the interior wall. This is not Silbury of course but the point is that an expert engineer/conservator should be able to remove the Silbury lintel with little or no further damage to the structure.One thing that should be emphasised is that the concrete lintel will not last forever; it will eventually deteriorate - what then? Further damage to the structure now surrounding it? Further excavations to make right what can and should be made right now?
As you say, "...it would be nice to hear an expert explain it wouldn't it?" And yes it does all sound familiar.
