£5 million re-roofing project at National Trust's Ickworth to start this summer
A £5 million re-roofing project at a National Trust property near Bury St Edmunds will start this summer.
It is the largest ever conservation project at Ickworth, in Horringer, which will see the property’s famous Rotunda roof re-tiled and there will be work on the East Wing roof.
Lightning protection will also be installed for the year-long ‘Ickworth Uncovered’ scheme that started at the beginning of the year 2,500 collection items moved from storage areas to make way for the work.
Andrew Rowson, project manager, said: “Ickworth Uncovered will help safeguard Ickworth and its highly significant collections for years to come.
“The craftsmanship that went into building Ickworth is incredible, but it is also natural that over time repairs will be needed.”
It is expected to take at least two months to build scaffolding around the Rotunda, which will start in late summer to allow for the roof works in late autumn.
For the project, 7,000 slates - weighing 42 tonnes - will be removed from the domed roof and replaced with each one individually shaped and sized.
Thanks to an £85,000 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, there will be new opportunities for visitors including a live video feed from the Rotunda roof and the chance to see more of the collection.
From January 2020, there will be a new way of exploring the inside and outside of the property called ‘Experiencing Ickworth Uncovered’.
Tim Watson, general manager, said: “Any major project which affects how Ickworth is presented will have its challenges but we are working hard to develop an experience for visitors to see Ickworth, its collections and its buildings, in a completely new way.
“We look forward to visitors seeing a different part of our story and supporting us in our journey to secure Ickworth’s legacy for future years. We are especially grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for supporting our project and helping us to share our work more widely, in an innovative and contemporary way.”
The National Trust is also fund-raising to support the project.
Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/appeal/ickworth-uncovered-appeal-
