Drawing Room Conservation Project at Cragside

2 March 2022

Scoping external works

Using the outcomes of all the surveys that we have carried out over the past months, our project team have been working with Trident Building Surveyors to develop a scope of works to improve the rainwater goods and drainage surrounding the Drawing Room. This work will also include further repointing of the external masonry. The aim is to help prevent water from penetrating the building and causing the salts that have caused damage to the marble of the Drawing Room fireplace.

31 January 2022

Drainage survey results

The results of the drainage survey carried out by specialists Hill Cannon are in. The report has shown that the historic culvert system is generally in good condition and sill working well, but they have identified works required to help improve its efficiency. This will help to prevent water ingress into the south wing of the house where the Drawing Room is located. These works will be included with the tender process for the plans to improve the rainwater goods and carry out further mortar repairs.

20 November 2021

Surveying the roof and rainwater goods

This week we are carrying out a survey of the roof and rainwater goods. The drainage system is being assessed so establish the work needed to improve the guttering and downpipes and help manage the rainwater penetration into the building.

18 October 2021

Repointing the House

Specialist contractors Heritage Consolidation repointed the exterior of the Drawing Room chimney breast and bay window, repairing gaps in the masonry and blocking rainwater routes, to stop moisture getting into the Drawing Room.  

The team carefully removed any cement-based mortar which has been used to fix the exterior wall of the House in the past and replaced is with a lime-based mortar. Unlike the cement-based mortar, the lime mortar allows water to evaporate from the surface of the building, enabling it to ‘breath’. This will help the building to dry out faster during heavy downpours and reduce the impact of salts. 

17 June 2021

Stitching the carpet patches into place

Using Lenka's map as a guide, conservators at the Rug and Carpet Studio embroidered the infills for the carpet with colour-matched wool. These were then stitched into place in the Drawing Room.  

Once completed the patch will forever be noticeable but this process will strengthen this historic carpet, stop further deterioration and ensure that it is preserved for years to come. 

14 June 2021

Stabilising the base weave of the carpet

Today a team of three conservators – Lenka, Jo and Kerri – joined us in the Drawing Room to begin the work on the carpet. Due to the sheer size of the carpet, it can’t be moved, so the panels are being stitched into the carpet on site. The first step is stabilising the base weave for the panel to be stitched on to.

28 March 2021

Tracing the carpet design

This week, we were joined by conservator Lenka Bashford from the Rug and Carpet Studio. Lenka traced and mapped out the repeated pattern in the carpet. While on site, Lenka also colour-matched the wools to create the embroidered sections. These will then be inserted into the damaged areas.

27 March 2021

Preparations for survey work begin

The next step in the Drawing Room conservation project took place this week as we carried out rectified photography with building surveyor James Brennan. Using a drone, James photographed the exterior walls of the Drawing Room to create scalable images of the masonry.  

These highly accurate images will be used during the next phase of work. We will have the opportunity to overlay the images with the results of a thermal imaging survey which will help us find hidden voids in the wall and water ingress routes. It will also help us to identify areas of the wall that need work.

22 March 2021

Phase 1: Inspections and repairs to steel girders

The fireplace is estimated to weigh 10 tonnes and is held in place by ferrous steel girders. This week Cliveden conservator Alex climbed behind the fireplace to paint the girders with marine paint to protect them from rusting further as a result of the water ingress.

8 March 2021

Phase 1: Repairs to marble fireplace commence

Phase 1 of the conservation work to the fireplace began today. Cliveden conservator Chloe has been carrying out repairs to the marble using lime mortar. To ensure that repairs are less noticeable, Chloe has mixed an aggregate using coloured sand to get as close to the colour and texture of the fireplace as possible.

1 December 2020

Funding awarded from DCMS, Wolfson Foundation and private donor

Funding of £100,000 has been secured for the conservation and repair of the Drawing Room and its fireplace and carpet. This work has been made possible by the generous donations from the Wolfson Foundation, a grant from the government's Culture Recovery Fund administered by Historic England, and support from a private donor.