NATIONAL TRUST FOR SCOTLAND MEDIA RELEASE
29 Oct 2008

Craigievar wraps up for winter

One of the North-East's most beautiful castles has been wrapped up for winter. The National Trust for Scotland's Craigievar Castle in Alford, Aberdeenshire has been swathed in heavy hessian to protect it through the winter months.

The castle is currently closed to the public and is undergoing a major renovation project. The existing cement harling has been removed and replaced with a traditional lime mortar.

Now the building has been wrapped in hessian to help ensure that the new harling sets properly by protecting it from frost and also ensuring that water in the lime mortar evaporates very slowly. The castle is also under scaffolding.

Property Manager Daphne Rose said:

"The old cement harling was damaging the castle by retaining water and causing damp and rot. The newly applied lime mortar is breathable and will ensure that if water gets in to the building, it can evaporate harmlessly. We're really pleased with the progress that Laing's Traditional Masonry, our contractors, have made over the summer in our project to ensure that Craigievar survives for hundreds more years.

"The cement has totally gone and most of the new harling is in place. Lime mortar needs the right conditions to ensure that it sets well - we need to make sure that it's protected from frost and that the mortar can dry out slowly. Hessian works well for this as it is a breathable fabric that allows moisture in and out.

"We are virtually finished with the lime work now and are already looking towards carrying out some conservation work on the wonderful decorative stonework that makes Craigievar so special."

Craigievar Castle has been closed to the public since October 2007. It is expected to re-open in Spring 2010. The grounds are open daily.



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The National Trust for Scotland is one of Scotland's leading conservation charities, which relies on the financial support of its members to fund its important work of caring for the natural and cultural heritage of Scotland for everyone to enjoy.

You can join the National Trust for Scotland for as little as £5 per month for a family. To become a member, visit http://www.nts.org.uk/Join/Benefits/.

The National Trust for Scotland for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty is a charity registered in Scotland, Charity Number SC007410

Craigievar Castle Building News from National Trust for Scotland 291008

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