A new phase of conservation work is scheduled to begin at Peel Castle, with specialist contractors set to repair historic masonry on the Barbican wall at the entrance to the site. Manx National Heritage (MNH) says the £70,000 project will start Monday, Sept. 28, and will require scaffolding around the entrance area while the work is underway.
The scope centers on lime mortar repointing and replacing weathered sandstone, using traditional conservation techniques and locally sourced materials. MNH says the Barbican wall work is part of a longer-term plan to conserve the castle’s curtain wall, which runs for almost 1 kilometer around St Patrick’s Isle.
The project follows conservation work completed earlier this year on the Causeway Wall. That phase included installing new Manx slate copings to help protect the masonry, with slate sourced from Cringle Quarry. MNH also incorporated salvaged sandstone gifted by the Dean of Peel Cathedral, and said specialist contractors Grenaby Limeworks carried out lime pointing along the wall.
For mason contractors who take on restoration and preservation work, the details here are a solid reminder that compatibility matters. MNH noted that lime mortar, rather than modern cement, helps historic stonework breathe and release moisture, which can be especially important in an exposed coastal environment. Material sourcing and sequencing matter, too. Copings, repointing, and stone replacement all need to work together to shed water and protect the wall behind them.
MNH says visitors will still be able to access the site, and the organization plans to use interpretation boards and guided tours so people can watch conservation in action. The Barbican wall work is being funded through a £70,000 capital projects loan from the Isle of Man Government to MNH.
Read the full, original article from iomtoday.co.im here.