Stonemasons Get Roped In For Major Spring Spruce Up At Abbotsford

Major maintenance work has been completed at Abbotsford, home of Sir Walter Scott near Melrose, in time to start celebrations for Scott’s 250th anniversary when the house re-opens to the public on Monday 26th April.

Stonemasons had to abseil from the roof to complete the five weeks of work to repaint all the doors, downpipes and almost two hundred window frames, and to complete essential repairs to the stonework, external fixtures and window mastic across the building.

Pictured are the team from Edinburgh Stonemasons, experts in traditional conservation, masonry and rope access, who were supported in the spruce up by Neil Maclean Decorating Services.

Abbotsford was able to finish the essential work in time for opening on Monday April 26th thanks to a Historic Environment Recovery Fund grant from Historic Environment Scotland.

Kirsty Archer-Thompson, Collections and Interpretation Manager for the Abbotsford Trust, said: “We wanted the house to be looking its best for the start of the celebrations for Scott’s 250th anniversary. A large, listed building like Abbotsford needs a lot of ongoing care and maintenance to protect it for the future. We were delighted that Historic Environment Scotland were able to help us complete this important task in time for our re-opening.”