Lanhydrock Long Gallery – National Trust
The Role of Scaffolding in Heritage Renovation: A Case Study by Chris Sedgeman Scaffolding
Key Project Info
- Client: National Trust
- Location: Lanhydrock House, Cornwall
- Project: Long Gallery Ceiling Conservation
- Scaffolding Type: Internal access scaffold with public viewing capability
- Special Requirements: Load-limited design, heritage-safe installation, non-invasive access to a historic Jacobean plaster ceiling
Project Overview
The Long Gallery at the National Trust’s Lanhydrock House is home to one of the most extraordinary Jacobean plasterwork ceilings in the UK. Created between 1620–1640 for John Robartes, the ceiling stretches 35 metres and features intricate Biblical scenes surrounded by over 350 species of animals, mythical beasts, and foliage.
After centuries of use and a devastating fire in 1881 that the ceiling miraculously survived, the National Trust commissioned major conservation works to restore this historic masterpiece. Chris Sedgeman Scaffolding was entrusted with designing and delivering a bespoke scaffold solution that enabled both the restoration and public engagement with the project.
Project Challenges
Working on a Grade I listed building of this magnitude comes with a unique set of challenges:
- Heritage Protection: All scaffold systems had to be non-invasive, ensuring zero impact to original materials such as woodwork, plaster, and stained glass.
- Restricted Access: Entry to the gallery was limited. Equipment had to pass through a small Victorian window, requiring partial removal and custom protection around it.
- Load Restrictions: The Long Gallery’s floor could not bear typical scaffold weight. A carefully engineered design was needed to accommodate conservators and equipment while staying within load-bearing limits.
- Public Engagement: The National Trust requested that visitors be allowed to view the works in progress. The scaffold needed to provide both safety for the public and optimal viewing angles.
Scaffolding Solution
Chris Sedgeman Scaffolding developed a fully tailored scaffold plan, blending expert technical design with careful on-site execution. Key features included:
- Loading Bay and Staircase Access: A temporary loading bay and stair tower were erected to access the tight Victorian window. Equipment was slid in carefully, ensuring full preservation of the architecture.
- Protective Measures: Full protection was installed around vulnerable features, including timber, stone, and decorative plasterwork.
- Engineered Weight Distribution: The scaffold inside the Long Gallery was calculated precisely to spread loads evenly, ensuring the floor structure remained uncompromised.
- Public Viewing Platform: The scaffold ran the full length of the gallery, providing an elevated walkway for both conservation teams and visiting members of the public—an opportunity few have had in centuries.
- Collaborative Delivery: Our team worked in partnership with conservation specialists from Cliveden Conservation and National Trust curators to time scaffold phases around delicate object removals, including over 3,400 historic books.
Preserving History Through Innovation
Thanks to this comprehensive scaffolding system, specialists are now cleaning, repairing, and repainting the Long Gallery ceiling for the first time in over 400 years. The work includes:
- Filling and replicating cracked or missing plaster
- Washing away centuries of dirt and discoloured distemper
- Reapplying new distemper to restore original brilliance
- Using advanced scanning techniques, such as LiDAR, to digitally document the ceiling’s details
As one of the UK’s most ambitious conservation scaffolding projects, it demonstrates how thoughtful, heritage-sensitive scaffolding makes world-class restoration possible.
Why Choose Chris Sedgeman Scaffolding?
From castles to cathedrals, Chris Sedgeman Scaffolding is proud to support the protection of historic structures across the South West. Our Lanhydrock project shows our commitment to:
- Safety-first design
- Heritage preservation
- Engineering precision
- Seamless collaboration with conservation teams
If you need scaffolding for a heritage property or complex renovation, we’re ready to help.
Call us today: 01736 364562
Email: enquiries@sedgeman.co.uk
Learn more: Lanhydrock Ceiling Conservation Project – National Trust