Springhill Rewiring Project

November 2023

Packing and protecting

The major re-wiring project at the 17th century Springhill House began on Sunday 5 November 2023.  To ensure the safety of the Springhill House collection, it had to be packed away for the duration of the work, this was led by the Regional Conservator, Claire Magill, who worked closely with Collections and House Manager for Mid Ulster, Ana Copeland, and her team. Collections and House Officer, Gerri Hammond led at property level organising the packing of the smaller portable collection items and the day-to-day supervision of contractors. Local, professional art handlers, Grallagh Studios were contracted for the movement of larger collection and in-situ protection. 

 

In-situ protection

The collection remained within the mansion in a purpose-built storage room in the house for contractors to begin electrical work within the house. The electricians moved from left to right throughout the mansion whilst the team ensured collections were moved and protected in timely way and to National Trust standards. This is often time consuming with each item requiring a different style of handling, packing and care.

The Collections and House Team faced challenges of cleaning without electricity, giving access to contractors​ outside of working hours and had to continually adjust their ways of working to keep the project running smoothly. 

Materials and packing equipment have been recycled from other projects and reused to ensure a sustainable and efficient approach.  

This dedicated team have worked tirelessly since then to make the building safe and plan for the future.

18 December 2023

Contractors Access Building

Accessing a historic building can be challanging whilst requiring a range of specialist tradesmen and equipment. Contractors given the responsibility of completing the Springhill House rewiring project were carefully chosen based on factors such as experience, reputation, and budget. 

QMAC Construction has a stellar reputation for undertaking complex and high-specification projects from inception to completion.  Their portfolio includes projects in the commercial, education, health, heritage, industrial, residential, social housing, and sport & leisure sectors. With a high proportion of long-serving skilled craftspeople, the company undertakes many specialist projects in the heritage sector.

QMAC was appointed in November 2023 and began planning in December 2023.

January

Work Continues

Rare Finds 

Whilst removing floorboards during the rewiring projects many items were found of great interest. In the past labourers and builders often used items to fill gaps, similar to insulation techniques but also as time capsules hoping someone would come across them in years to come. 

At Springhill many items have been found including an empty packet for 10 Player's Medium Navy Cut cigarettes, old lightbulb packaging, hand carved writing on walls and various tools and trinkets. 

25 February 2024

Main Showrooms

February saw the contractors leave the back of house areas of mansion and move into the main Showrooms that the public see on their tour. This required more supervision from the team as well as specially built protection for large scale pieces of collection like bookcases and four-poster beds.

Our building surveyor and project lead, Rory Hackett worked alongside Cultural Heritage Curator, Shannon Fraser to decide on the light and electrical fixtures and fittings appropriate for a mansion of this age which was probably first electrified in the early 20^th century.

The Gun Room at Springhill boosts from of the oldest hand blocked wallpaper in Ireland which needed to be covered for the duration of the project as modern equpiment and reels of wiring were brought through rooms to complete the works.

The project progressed according to schedule and the Collections & House team began to work their plans for reinstating the rooms to welcome our visitors back in time for Easter 2024. The Mid Ulster team were grateful that our colleagues from the other mansion houses in Northern Ireland joined us to deep clean and unpack our historic collection ahead of reopening to the public.