Vital repairs to secure 17th century Cambuslang castle
May 12 2020
A B-listed tower house in South Lanarkshire is to be saved from nature's clutches under new plans to stabilise and secure the ruin.
Listed building consent is sought for Gilbertfield Castle, near Cambuslang, as part of a larger residential development which is funding the renovation works.
Abandoned for over a century the path to ruin was accelerated in May 1916 when four young men were charged with maliciously pulling down the south bastion, ostensibly on the grounds of public safety.
Recounting the tale CD Architects wrote: "In their defence, the accused claimed to have been passing the castle when they observed a huge stone protruding from the turret. Considering it hazardous, and fearful that it may dislodge and injure someone, they procured a rope and tugged put the offending stone, pulling with it to the ground a mass of surrounding material. Their public-spiritedness earned each of them a £1 fine from an unconvinced magistrate."
Interventions penned by Groves Raines Architects will see the footprint of the castle at its fullest extent indicated by vertical stone slips, with new interpretation panels documenting the history of the site.
Structural works include shoring up the wall end to secure access with forged steel grilles reinstated to ground-level openings.
3 Comments
#1 Posted by The Bairn on 13 May 2020 at 22:04 PM
Hey I know, why doesn't somebody put up a scaffolding tower, cover the structure with see through tarpaulin and spend lots of time and money bringing it back to life. Griff Rhys Jones et al would like this one. No takers? Next step demolition and site clearance.
#2 Posted by Glasgow Bob on 15 May 2020 at 08:19 AM
#1 Agreed. Let's point cloud it and preserve it for the future on-line. Why waste time slowing nature when it's not of any merit. Demolish and plough the land over for some real use.
#3 Posted by T.H.Ford on 15 May 2020 at 10:18 AM
As building that it is listed, the building should be properly assessed and maintained. The fact four men willful damaged the building in 2016, and has caused an accelerated declined, is concerning.
By the sounds of it, from the brief report there is merit for it to be stabilise and repaird to point where it will can surivive.
Point cloud surveying is all very well and good and whilst it can capture the image of the building, it is nothing to be able to actually visit and explore a building. Historic buildings where possible should be preserved for the people to enjoy and understand. Once it's gone, it's gone and nothing can replace it.
By the sounds of it, from the brief report there is merit for it to be stabilise and repaird to point where it will can surivive.
Point cloud surveying is all very well and good and whilst it can capture the image of the building, it is nothing to be able to actually visit and explore a building. Historic buildings where possible should be preserved for the people to enjoy and understand. Once it's gone, it's gone and nothing can replace it.
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