The team at Old Plean Roofing is working on restoring the roof of Stirling's historic Bannockburn House as part of a long-term project to bring the 17th century building back to life.
The company, founded by Mark and Fiona Thornton, was commissioned to carry out the first phase of repairs and a team is on site daily to conserve the deteriorating roof, which is estimated to be between 350 and 400 years old.
Water intrusion from the roof, which features hand-hewn wooden slate pegs and carvings on the beams, threatens the home's interior and its ornate plaster ceilings. The work is essential to preserve it for future generations.
Bannockburn House was completed around 1675 and has historically important architectural features, including unique ceilings said to be the work of Houlbert and Dunsterfield – two highly skilled craftsmen who also created the ornate ceilings at Holyrood Palace.
Over the centuries it has been home to many families, while its most famous resident, Bonnie Prince Charlie, used it as a military headquarters for his Jacobite army in January 1746.
In 2017, the Bannockburn House Trust took ownership of the house, which had been unoccupied since the 1960s, following a council purchase. Since then, a team of volunteers have worked tirelessly to save the property and give it new life.
Catherine Bradley, Head of Research, Conservation and Living History at Bannockburn House, is overseeing the roofing work, documenting and examining every piece of material that needs to be removed as part of the restoration project.
She said: “The biggest concern that has caused many of the problems is water intrusion from the various roofs. This is the most time-consuming, resource-intensive and financially challenging issue the Trust faces in saving the house and surrounding buildings.”
“Roofing work has begun to address the issue – initially in the areas affecting our ornate plaster ceilings and friezes – and is vital to preserving the historic fabric of the building. It's a painstaking process and we learn more and more about the history of the house as time goes on, which is quite fascinating.
“We are working in accordance with our conservation management plan and starting with the dormers, each layer will be documented and examined and we will carry out detailed analysis to learn more about the construction phases of the house.”
The restoration work includes regular consultations with a heritage expert. A bat ecologist is often on site to identify roosting sites and ensure that the bats living in the house remain undisturbed.
Old Plean Roofing, based at Stirling Manor Farm Business Park, was chosen for the work due to its roofing expertise and local connections.
Dr. Bradley added: “The house was historically built with local traders and the Trust felt it was important to continue this tradition and work with people who are familiar with the building materials and styles used.”
“We also wanted to support the local economy and its artisans, support the community in the same way they have supported us, and involve them in the heritage and history of the house.
“We needed a local company that would work with us flexibly and be willing to stop by regularly to take photos and help with documentation, which is crucial to preserving the history of the house.
“We were looking for someone who would be comfortable addressing concerns about the building and who would understand that if we found something important, we would have to wait to investigate it and get approval for the replacement. They also had to adhere to a conservation management plan and OPR Contracts Director Mark Thornton was more than happy with all of our requirements.”
The OPR team took on some unusual tasks during the project, including creating “bat slate panels” with a gap for bats to get in and out while the roof was repaired.
They also uncovered parts of an old wooden table that had been used in previous dormer repairs, possibly indicating that materials were in short supply at the time the work was carried out. The wood has been labeled and photographed and is being further examined by experts to understand the history of the building.
As the project progresses, original roofing, slate tiles and hand-hewn wooden pegs will also be examined.
Mr Thornton commented: “The restoration of Bannockburn House is one of the most interesting we have ever worked on and we are delighted to be involved in a community project that is right on our doorstep.
“The restoration is going well and we have already carried out repairs to four rear dormer windows which are preventing water from entering the main rooms. It was an unusual task that included tasks such as making bat plaques that we placed in strategic locations to provide a place for the bats to roost and keep them away from the areas being worked on.
“It is also interesting to bag, mark and photograph every single piece of slate and other material that needs to be removed from the roofs and we enjoy the challenge and the opportunity to learn more about our local history over time .”
Further roofing work includes the restoration of the six Jacobean chimneys. The home is currently closed to the public with hopes of reopening in the spring.
The ongoing restoration work to preserve Bannockburn House and its gardens is expected to take years and cost up to £20 million. The Trust has a crowdfunding platform for donations.