Old Plean Roofing has been contracted to undertake the crucial first phase of roof restoration at the historic Bannockburn House in Stirling.

The award-winning firm, founded by Mark and Fiona Thornton, is currently on site working to conserve the deteriorating roof, which is estimated to be between 350 and 400 years old.

Water ingress from the roof poses a significant threat to the interior of the House, including its unique ornate plasterwork ceilings, believed to be the work of renowned craftsmen Houlbert and Dunsterfield.

Completed around 1675, Bannockburn House boasts significant historical importance. It served as the headquarters for Bonnie Prince Charlie's Jacobite army in January 1746.

In 2017, Bannockburn House Trust, following a community buyout, assumed ownership of the property, which had remained uninhabited since the 1960s.

Catherine Bradley, head of research, conservation, and living history at Bannockburn House, is overseeing the roofing work, which includes meticulous documentation and study of all materials removed as part of the restoration project.

This essential restoration work will ensure the preservation of this important historical landmark for future generations.

Bradley said: "The major concern, which has caused many of the problems, is water ingress from the various roofs and this is the most time-consuming, resource-intensive and financially problematic issue the Trust faces in saving the House and surrounding buildings.

"The roofing works have begun addressing the problem – initially in areas affecting our ornate plasterwork ceilings and friezes – and are vital to save the historic fabric of the building.

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"It's a painstaking process and we are uncovering more and more about the history of the House as we go along which is quite fascinating.

"We're working according to our conservation management plan and, starting with the roof dormers, each layer is being documented and studied and we'll be conducting detailed analysis to learn more about the construction phases of the House."

The restoration work includes regular consultations with a heritage expert and a bat ecologist is often on site to identify roosts and ensure bats living at the House remain undisturbed.

Old Plean Roofing, who are based at Stirling's Manor Farm Business Park, were selected for the work due to their roofing expertise and local connections.

Dr Bradley added: "The House was built historically with local traders and the Trust felt it was important to continue that tradition and work with people familiar with the building materials and styles used.

"We also wanted to back the local economy and its tradespeople, to support the community as much as they have been supporting us and involve them in the heritage and history of the House.

"We needed a local company who would collaborate flexibly with us and be prepared to stop regularly to take photos and help with the documentation which is vital to preserving the House's history.

"We sought someone who was happy to take the concerns of the building on board and who understood that if we find something of importance we have to wait to research it and gain permission to replace it. We also needed them to adhere to a conservation management plan and OPR Contracts Director Mark Thornton was more than happy to agree with all our specifications."

The OPR team has undertaken some unusual tasks during the project including creating 'bat slates' with a gap for bats to get in and out of while the roof is being fixed.

They also uncovered sections of an old wooden table which had been used during previous repairs to roof dormers and which may indicate how materials were scarce at the time the work was carried out. The wood has been labelled and photographed and will be studied further by experts working to understand the history of the building.

Original roof sarking, slates and hand-hewn wooden pegs are also being examined as the project continues.

Mr Thornton said: "The restoration of Bannockburn House is one of the most interesting we've worked on and we're pleased to be involved in a community project which is right on our doorstep.

"The restoration is going well and we've already carried out repairs to four rear dormer roofs which have stopped water coming into the main rooms.

"It's been an unusual job involving tasks such as manufacturing bat slates which we've put in strategic places to give the bats somewhere to roost and direct them away from the areas being worked on.

"Bagging, tagging and photographing every single piece of slate and other material which needs to come off the roofs is also interesting and we're enjoying the challenge and the opportunity to learn more about our local history as we go along."

Further roofing work will include restoring the six Jacobean chimneys and the House is currently closed to the public with hopes it will be ready to reopen in the Spring.