Kresen Kernow, Redruth – Heritage Scaffolding Project
Key Info
- Project: Kresen Kernow Redevelopment Scaffolding Works
- Type of Service: Specialist & Heritage
- Location: Redruth, Cornwall
- Client: Cornwall Council
- Main Contractor: Midas Construction Ltd
- Completion Date: May 2018
- Scope of Work: Complex temporary works, heritage-sensitive access and support scaffold for refurbishment of a historic brewery and chimney
The Redruth Brewery Chimney is not just a physical structure—it represents Cornwall's deep-rooted history in industry and brewing. Over the years, it has become an iconic part of the local landscape. As one of the last remaining examples of Cornwall’s industrial past, it was vital that the chimney be preserved and restored for future generations to appreciate.
Chris Sedgeman Scaffolding played a pivotal role in the regeneration of the former Redruth Brewery into Kresen Kernow—Cornwall’s state-of-the-art archive and cultural centre. The site, rich with industrial history and home to a 33-metre-high 1930s chimney, required a tailored scaffolding strategy that prioritised heritage conservation, technical complexity, and safety.
Working under the guidance of Cornwall Council, with heritage architects Purcell, and in partnership with Midas Construction, our team delivered a large-scale scaffolding solution that enabled the safe restoration and redevelopment of the brewery buildings. Resulting in Chris Sedgeman Scaffolding coming Runner-Up for the NASC 2017 Scaffolding Project of the Year, highlighting the innovative nature and executional quality of the Kresen Kernow project.
Our Solution
This project demanded an innovative and evolving approach, dealing with highly unstable existing structures, evolving design requirements, and strict heritage conservation standards.
Key scaffold installations included:
- Chimney Scaffold
A completely freestanding, 31m-high scaffold erected around the historic brewery chimney. This structure consisted of 14 lifts designed without any physical tie-ins to the chimney, to avoid damage to the structure. The scaffold was stabilised using:
- 12 tonnes of kentledge, distributed in four 12-tonne shipping containers
- 19mm wire ropes tensioned and anchored with 18-tonne shackles
- Buttress towers and external raker braces, with the entire system was built using Plettac system scaffolding
- Internal Scaffold Systems
- Massive birdcage scaffolds totalling 1500m², facilitating internal works including roof installation, edge protection, and crash decks.
- Access scaffolds for the installation of pad-stones and other structural works
- Temporary support scaffolds with RMD Slim-lite Soldiers, installed between internal and external walls for additional stability
- Support for Arches & Historic Fabric
Flying shores were installed across open spans, and additional supports were used around historic archways. The building was constantly shifting due to the silt foundation and lack of structural support, requiring ongoing adaptations and amendments to ensure the structure’s stability and the safety of tradespeople.
- Scaffold Handover and Rework
CSS took over from the previous scaffold contractor and carried out extensive rework, purchasing the existing scaffold equipment, dismantling and re-erecting to meet updated safety and access requirements.
- External Scaffold
Full perimeter scaffold was installed to enable façade restoration, chimney uplighting works, and structural reinforcements to the outer elevations.
- Weatherproofing and Roofing Access
- Temporary wraps and weather protection replaced with Kedar roofing sheets
- Crash decks and roof-level scaffolds for ongoing refurbishment
Technical & Safety Excellence
This was a project defined by technical complexity and heritage sensitivity. Our teams worked to TG20 standards, with weekly safety inspections, strict design approvals, and method statements agreed in coordination with engineers and conservation consultants.
Our scaffolding team overcame significant design constraints, especially in delivering a non-load-bearing scaffold to the chimney—a structure where horizontal loading was not permitted. Our bespoke, freestanding scaffold solution was one of the most technically complex temporary works solutions in the region at the time.
Shaping Redruth’s Future
Now complete, Kresen Kernow houses 1.5 million items across 14 miles of shelving, offering a world-class archival facility that celebrates Cornwall’s culture and history.
The former brewery—originally founded in 1792 and decommissioned in 2004—has been transformed into a vibrant public asset. The restored chimney, now illuminated with uplighters, stands as a beacon of industrial heritage preserved through technical scaffolding excellence.
Leaving a Legacy
This was more than a job—it was a statement of what Chris Sedgeman Scaffolding represents: precision, heritage-conscious design, innovation, and local pride. Our legacy is not just in the structures we help restore but in the highly skilled workforce we train, the systems we refine, and the communities we help uplift through safe, sustainable access.
We are proud to have supported this award-winning project, contributing to Cornwall’s cultural future through the lens of its industrial past.