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Preserving our Heritage
Re-leading of the Roof
Re-leading the roof at Drumlanrig Castle took approximately 18 years to complete and was contracted to a firm in Edinburgh. A total of 266 tonnes of lead were required to re-lead the roof. In addition to the lead works, considerable joinery and masonry work was carried out by the Estate labour force. Whilst work was being carried out, a temporary roof was erected over the building to allow for work to be carried out in all weathers. The work was finally completed in 1995 and the repairs should last for at least one hundred years.
Some of the old lead can be seen on a turret displayed in the stableyard while the remainder was scrapped for re-use elsewhere.
The Stonework
Preserving the stonework of the 17th Century Castle is an ongoing process. The stone used to restore the stonework is extracted from a local Estate quarry using the traditional methods of plugs and feathers. Any additional stone required is either brought from a quarry in Dodington, Yorkshire, or salvaged from redundant buildings and reworked.In addition to the replacement of the carved stonework, a continual process of repointing and renewing defective stones is being undertaken.
As part of the ongoing general repair work, much is being done to replace the lead drop-pipes on the perimeter of the Castle.
Read about the Douglas's Winged Heart