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Search forTutbury Castle undergoes roof repairs
Friday, November 21, 2008, 08:10
Curator Lesley Smith feared the timbers in the roof were just months away from crumbling after a maintenance check of the 11th-century castle was carried out earlier this year.
However, her concerns were eased yesterday when Uttoxeter builders Woolley and Wainwright inserted the beams to support the roof's original timbers.
Mrs Smith said the repair work had become essential as the roof of the castle, leased from the Queen, had become unable to withstand a sustained period of bad weather.
She said: "The wood is about 1,000 years old and some parts of it were like touching dust. Over the next couple of years, it could have completely crumbled."
The two beams were inserted using a crane and took nine workers about three hours to put in place. Each beam weighs about a ton and will cradle the timbers, which must remain in place because the castle is a Grade I-listed building.
Work on the castle began at the beginning of the month and is not due to be completed for another two weeks.
Mrs Smith said: "It's a massive job. We've had to pull the roof away and make the area completely waterproof."
The castle, famous as the 'jail' of Mary Queen of Scots on four occasions during the 16th century, is now a wedding venue and attracts up to 110,000 visitors a year.
Mrs Smith, who became the curator in 1999 and oversaw a major restoration project, admitted she was relieved that the hardest part of the roof repairs was now over.
"It was a huge job but we've done it and the team has been outstanding," she said. "It will go a long way in protecting the fabric of a fantastic castle."
Scaffolding will remain while the work is completed. However, the castle's Christmas fair will not be affected, with stalls offering a variety of gifts tomorrow and Sunday, from 11am and 5pm each day.
BEAM END: Above, one of the huge roof beams and, left, curator Lesley Smith with builder Peter Wainwright
