Castles in Cumbria

Sizergh Castle all wrapped-up.

The work on the castle is expected to take two years to complete. Experts will use local materials and traditional craft skills similar to those used when the Grade I listed building was built in mediaeval times.

The project includes major re-roofing work and repairs to the structure of the castle.

Painstaking work is being done in the joint English Heritage and National Trust project, including the use of locally sourced materials such as Westmorland green slate and traditional lime-based mortars for re-pointing work.

In a few weeks time, the Boston Ivy - a famous feature of the castle - will be removed from Pele Tower while modern concrete pointing is removed from the structure and replaced with porous lime mortar to allow it "to breathe".

Old paper found in the castle rafters

Meanwhile, the roofs of the south and north wings will be recovered, mainly in Westmorland Green Slate from a Cumbrian quarry, while the central tower roof will be re-leaded. Sheep's wool loft insulation supplied by Second Nature will also be used.

Some 43 miles of scaffolding is being erected around the building and plastic sheeting will protect the castle while roof sections are repaired. Experts will repair parapets and gutters, re-render chimneystacks and repair the garden steps and east wall of the castle.

And even though there's plenty of work still to do on the castle over the next two years, It is still open to the public. The Cafe, garden and shop are open 11 - 5 pm and the Castle is open from 1 - 5 pm.

Plan of the south wing roof at Sizergh

The picture shows a plan of the roof timbers in the south wing. Each of the timbers is numbered and coloured - with the new timber marked in green.