Coxton Tower, Lhanbryde | Restoration Case Study

Our role: Contractor
Client: Private client (trustees)
Architect: Law & Dunbar-Nasmith

Coxton Tower is a Category A listed fortified tower house and Scheduled Ancient Monument near Lhanbryde, completed in 1644. Its four storeys rise above a stone barrel vault capped with a rare flush stone-slab roof. We carried out conservation in two phases: the stone roof, then the harling, stonework, windows and doors.

Before & after

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

Coxton Tower after restoration by LTM Group

BeforeAfter

The challenge

On the roof, every ridge stone and flagstone had to be recorded and numbered so the roof could be relaid exactly as it was. The lime binder beneath had washed out, leaving the slabs on loose, soil-laden material. On the walls, the historic harl was coming away from the masonry and delaminating between successive coats, and the new harl had to blend with the original in texture and colour.

Our solution

We photographed and mapped each roof stone course by course, lifted, cleaned and stacked them in sequence, removed loose material and vegetation, primed the sub-base with gauged hot lime and relaid the slabs. Eroded flags were indented and the chimney copes replaced with vented capping. For the harl, our masons injected a viscous lime grout with stone dust and casein by syringe to the correct layer, replacing only areas that could not be saved. Original oak windows and doors were restored with handmade nails and protected with linseed paint.

Outcomes

Stone roof relaid as found

Every slab returned to its recorded position on a sound lime sub-base, with no modern membranes.

Original harl retained

Grout consolidation saved historic harling that would otherwise have been lost.

Joinery conserved

Original oak windows, doors and glass were retained and restored.

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