Saving a landmark tower:

Alexander Scott’s Hospital

Huntly, Aberdeenshire · c. 2006

Our role: Principal Contractor
Client: Alexander Scott's Hospital Trust
Architect: LDN Architects
Engineer: Elliot and Company, Consulting Engineers
Award: Gold, Green Apple Award 2006

We restored the porte-cochère tower of Alexander Scott’s Hospital, a Category A listed building at the heart of Huntly. The imposing 1901 frontage by Marshall Mackenzie is built in snecked granite with Auchindoir freestone dressings. Working over a five-year programme in a live nursing home, we structurally stabilised the tower and replaced or repaired its decayed carved sandstone.

Before & after

Drag across the image to compare the building before our work and after completion.

Alexander Scott’s Hospital after restoration by LTM Group

Alexander Scott’s Hospital before restoration

BeforeAfter

Alexander Scott’s Hospital, Huntly, Aberdeenshire — photograph 1

Alexander Scott’s Hospital, Huntly, Aberdeenshire — photograph 2

Alexander Scott’s Hospital, Huntly, Aberdeenshire — photograph 3

Alexander Scott’s Hospital, Huntly, Aberdeenshire — photograph 4

Alexander Scott’s Hospital, Huntly, Aberdeenshire — photograph 5

The challenge

Over the years the tower had moved, redirecting load paths away from its four main corners and into the non-load-bearing window panels. The result was overloading and localised failure of the window tracery. The original clay-bound sandstone was also decaying badly, raising concerns about the parapet and tracery. All of this had to be tackled while the building stayed in use as a nursing home, with careful control of access, noise and crane operations.

Our solution

Working with the structural engineer and architect, we introduced internal structural steelwork and stainless steel reinforcement to strengthen the tower and relieve the thrust on the tracery, hiding the fixings in the tower’s shadow lines. A full masonry survey recorded every stone by location and condition. We worked with the British Geological Survey to match replacement stone, then carved new finials, string courses and decorative flowers to replicate the originals. Where stone could be kept, we used pigmented hydraulic lime mortar repairs, armatures, flaunching and lime grouts to retain as much historic fabric as possible.