It takes an unbelievable quantity of arduous work, tenacity and teamwork to show an unsteady wreck in peril of collapse right into a customer attraction. Our Casework Group are sometimes concerned and have been delighted to see two sensible restoration initiatives cross the end line in late summer season.
A Speyside Stronghold
Citadel Roy captured from above in 2002
Citadel Roy is a formidable, very early stone citadel that has guarded Speyside for 1000 years. The four-side stronghold stands on a glacial mound on one aspect of the Spey Valley. Carbon courting has proven it to be one of many oldest unchanged castles of its sort in Scotland.
The citadel in 1981
Historically the citadel has been related to the highly effective Comyn household, who’re thought to have constructed it sooner or later within the twelfth century. It’s modified arms a number of instances since then, earlier than being bought by the Citadel Roy Belief in 1994.
The citadel has been a scheduled monument since 1959. You could find out extra about its historical past in this complete article from historian Simon Forder.
Roy’s Restoration
On this Scottish Growth Division picture from 1984, the citadel may be seen falling right into a state of disrepair
Greater than twenty years in the past, residents of neighbouring Nethy Bridge determined to take motion and protect the Citadel for future generations.
It was no straightforward job and concerned organising a Belief, getting funding, appointing a undertaking workforce, negotiating permissions and discovering expert tradespeople.
As a result of the citadel is a scheduled monument, the HES Casework Group had a task to play. This concerned early discussions about what can be attainable and serving to help the Belief in getting consent for the works to go forward.
Our colleagues in Grants have been additionally instrumental in unlocking funds for the undertaking. Expert HES conservationists have been additionally available to provide recommendation.
This drawing of Citadel Roy by Frances Charteris Davidson may be discovered within the HES archives
A Grand Opening
Many years of arduous work paid off on 25 September with an official opening and conventional ribbon slicing on the Citadel. It was 29 years because the restoration undertaking had first been talked about.
Richard Eccles, Chairman of Citadel Roy Belief mentioned:
The Belief want to thank HES for all its assist, recommendation and help over time. We’re grateful that they might see our imaginative and prescient and their steerage did a lot to convey the undertaking to fruition.”
What’s apparent to anybody visiting is that a tremendous historic web site has been reworked and is now an actual asset to the local people.
The Belief plan to take advantage of the Citadel’s romantic environment and exquisite setting within the Cairngorms Nationwide Park. It may be a venue for weddings and different occasions, so bear that in thoughts if you’re planning a special day!
Swipe to see the “earlier than” and “after” look of Citadel Roy 👇
The Tower within the Loch
At a sprightly 500 years previous, Peel Tower close to Lochwinnoch has much less years behind it than Citadel Roy. However was in simply as a lot want of conservation!
The bizarre late medieval fortification on an island in Citadel Semple Loch is now a part of a implausible RSPB Nature Reserve.
Lochwinnoch with the loch and nature reserve within the background
The tower was constructed with large, 3 metre-thick partitions and 4 wide-mouthed gun holes. This implies it was for defence, not to be used as a residence. There’s only some examples of this in Scotland.
Peel Tower might subsequently assist us perceive the connection between momentary refuges and everlasting residences in a interval of intense inter-family feuding. It’s been a scheduled monument since 1998.
Peel and Reveal
The constructing’s conservation turned a key undertaking within the Garnock Connections Panorama Partnership, Revealing Peel Tower.
Work was carried out to reverse vandalism and neglect in and across the tower. Thick vegetation, embedded timber and fallen rubble have been all faraway from the monument.
HES helped to information the undertaking to a profitable consequence over the past 5 years. The arduous work of the partnership workforce was celebrated with a ‘Large Reveal at Peel’ on 11 August. Alyson Hunter, Venture Supervisor of Garnock Connections mentioned:
The consolidation of Peel Tower wouldn’t have been attainable with out the unwavering help from HES, the grants and monuments groups particularly.”
Swipe to see the “earlier than” and “after” look of Peel Tower 👇
Discover out extra about potential restoration
You’ll be able to learn extra about how we recognise nationally necessary monuments by way of scheduling on the HES web site.
Scheduled monument consent is used to make sure that any adjustments to those monuments are applicable. All the pieces it is advisable learn about scheduled monument consent, together with data on find out how to apply, is on our Recommendation and Assist pages.
Grants can be found to help the price of conservation-standard restore initiatives for buildings, locations of worship or historic monuments that are of particular architectural, historic or archaeological curiosity.
