Historic Environment Scotland (HES) announced on 24 February that conservation works have begun at Caerlaverock Castle in Dumfries and Galloway. HES stated that the castle grounds, exhibition and visitor centre will remain open while the work is carried out.
The ongoing works entail the installation of scaffolding to facilitate access for the inspection and repair of the fabric of the staircase and the north-west tower of the 13th-century structure. This initiative follows recent masonry consolidation efforts conducted on the chimneys.
The inspection activities are a continuation of the High-Level Masonry project, which examined the effects of climate change on historic masonry structures exceeding 1.5 metres in height, as well as the extent of deterioration attributed to various factors such as construction materials, age, and geographical location. Although this challenge is not exclusive to Scotland, HES is recognized as one of the pioneering heritage management organizations to tackle it in this manner.
During the course of these vital conservation efforts, access to the castle’s interior will be limited. Nevertheless, visitors will still have the opportunity to explore the grounds, play areas, visitor centre, and exhibition at no cost. Additionally, activities are being organized for visitors, including cyanotype photography, paper crafting, and a showcase of archival photographs.
Rosie Thorp, District Visitor and Community Manager at HES, said:
“Originally built in the 1270s, Caerlaverock Castle is a hugely important site in Dumfries and Galloway, and these measures are necessary to facilitate vital conservation works. We understand that visitors will be eager to get back inside the castle, however, this work is part of the important maintenance of the historic site.
“While we aim to reopen the interior of the Castle in spring, visitors can continue to enjoy the breathtaking views of Caerlaverock Castle, with its unique triangular shape, and explore the visitor centre where they can find out more about this outstanding, historic location.”
