| Mitford is one of the major castles in Northumberland and one that is virtually unique in that, whilst extensive structural remains of the 12th and 13th centuries survive, there is very little evidence of later medieval or post medieval structure apart from some antiquarian repairs aimed at maintaining the upstanding ruins. Parts of the standing remains are in poor condition, in particular the shell keep wall topping the motte has long-standing structural problems evidenced by crude attempts at repair, probably from the 19th century.
In recent discussions with Shepherd Offshore Plc the owners of the land/ruin, Cyril Winskell, consultant architect and representatives from English Heritage, the following work will be carried out in 2004 to arrest some of the ongoing deterioration of the structures.
Stonework Consolidation and Repair Phase 1:
- Central Section: West Curtain Wall
- Northern Section: West Curtain Wall
SCOPE OF WORKS:
- Erect fully boarded working lift scaffold without physical ties into the structure
- Removal of vegetative growth deep rooted into masonry
- Repair exposed core stonework by rough backing
- Repair coursed ashlar by raking joints and repointing
- Treat delaminating stonework with consolidation fluids
- Gravity feed masonry consolidation to core works using Pozzolanic cement grouts.
- Attend archaeologists watching brief
STATUS: Principal contractor
VALUE: Phase 1 £50k Phase 2 £1m
DURATION: 12 weeks (Phase 1)
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