The Maxwell at Glenlair Trust
Make a Donation

How to help

Click on Donate to make a donation to help stabilise Glenlair House and build a visitors centre.



"One of the most penetrating intellects of all time."
R.A. Millikan

Restorative Work between March 2008 and April 2009

06/01/2010
Protective flooring was laid in porch area to prevent damage to tiled floor.

Scaffolding erected to all indicated elevations, internal party walls, and both internal and external faces of stonework.

Scaffolding erected to both chimney heads on south wing.

Existing vegetation and visible root systems to external walling and wallhead/gable areas were carefully cut out and all debris removed off site.

Existing loose stonework and sandstone features at wallheads, chimney heads and gables were carefully removed/uplifted (All stones and sandstone was carefully laid aside and stored on site).

Dangerous stonework/sandstone masonry was carefully taken down.

Existing wallheads were repaired utilising existing stonework and mortar as specified by the Scottish Lime Centre.

Existing chimney heads and gable areas of the west wing were rebuilt.

For those wallheads abutting the south wing and providing stability to the structure, the stonework was repaired, levelled off and capped with mortar as specified by the Scottish Lime Centre.

Existing slate areas were carefully removed and laid aside on site for re-use. A survey of the roof joists, trusses and roof boards resulted in the decision to completely strip and replace the whole roof structure including all timberwork.

All defective, cast iron rainwater gutters, down pipes and fittings were carefully removed. Unfortunately none were worthy of being saved and the whole were replaced with like for like around the exterior walls of the south wing.

All existing defective timber lintels within the south wing were removed and replaced with requisite 100 x 225 m precast concrete lintels.

Debris from basement and solum areas was removed exposing the original quarry tiles. Surprisingly very few objects of interest were uncovered, but the few that were found were stored for safekeeping.

The steps leading to the front door were reinstated utilizing recovered granite blocks.

The wallheads of the porch area were repaired and the stonework repointed.

All standing wallheads throughout the building were capped with mortar as specified by the Scottish Lime Centre and areas of weakness repaired/repointed.

All existing, window shutters, external doors, salvageable timber finishes, sash and case windows were carefully removed. Unfortunately only the shutters from JCM's bedroom were re-useable and these were refitted in the porch.

Wire guards were fitted to all cellar windows and the doorways to the lounge and upper bedrooms to prevent bird access.

A new slated roof was constructed above the entrance porch. Roof was boarded, sarked and insulated i.a.c. with current Building regulations.

Glazed sash windows were fitted to all 11 current window openings as per original drawings.

The front door that had been stored in the farmyard for over 50 years was repaired and refitted to the main entrance.

A porthole style glass window was installed at the western exit from the porch to enable viewing of building interior.

The porch was dry lined throughout and panelling, which like the front door was stored in the farmyard for 50 years, was installed n the porch.

Electrical circuits to provide lighting, heating and amenity sockets were installed in the porch.

New finials in local sandstone as per J Barbour's drawings were manufactured by local stonemason, Joe Smith (www.joe-smith.co.uk) and installed above the bay windows and the front door.




The tiled floor in the porch area was repaired, cleaned and polished by Kate Anderson. (www.AndersonArt.co.uk)