A NEW look to an old medieval building is set to paint a Furness town pink. The £100,000 revamp of Dalton Castle will leave it with a pinkish tint, so it might not look out of place in the Scottish resort town of Tobermory, famous for its multi-coloured houses.
Traditional methods using local materials are being used to repair the medieval castle, which has been affected by damp. But despite the new pinkish-brown colour, residents and councillors have welcomed the update of the site, built around 1340.
Harry Pilkington, treasurer of the Friends of Dalton Castle, said: “If it does the job, it should be very good. It has got a very sound roof and would make a very good place to live. I think the pink will fade over time. It will be a lot different from what it is now.”
Friends of Dalton Castle chairwoman Angela McCreath said: “I am sure it will look absolutely beautiful, but it will look very different in a few years. It will look pink but it will fade over the next few years. I’m sure there are always a few people who will complain. It will not look like Tobermory.”
Dalton South borough councillor Gordon Murray was delighted with the choice of colour.
He said: “From what I gather, traditional materials are being used so the building can breathe. I think it’s very commendable of them to do this. It will be wonderful. I think pink is a wonderful colour.”
Councillor Dermot O’Connor, chairman of the Dalton Development Partnership, said: “I am really pleased the National Trust is working on this. I am colour blind to the colour. If it makes it more attractive and more practical then I support it.”
The work is being carried out by contractors hired by the castle’s owners, The National Trust. The castle’s six-foot thick tower walls, which rise 40-feet from the ground, are being repaired by removing modern cement pointing and replacing it with traditional lime mortar. Repairs are also being carried out to worn down sandstone dressings and the lead flashing to the parapet.
The new mortar should help the damp escape as opposed to being trapped in denser modern cement. Sand for the mortar will come from nearby Goldmire Quarry mixed with lime.
A National Trust statement said: “This matches the original colour of the mortar which takes on a pale pinkish-brown derived from the local sand. By the use of traditional materials in repairing buildings such as this, the National Trust aims to preserve buildings in their original state for future generations to appreciate.
“The work of re-pointing should be completed by July 2007. However, some improvements to the area around the building are planned as a later phase. The National Trust would like to thank the Friends of Dalton Castle for their support.”
The castle was built by the abbot of Furness who ruled the whole of the area in medieval times. It contained his courtroom, offices, guardrooms, stores and a dungeon for prisoners. It stayed in use as a courthouse for more than 500 years and was owned by the Crown from 1537 and successive dukes from 1661 before it was given to the National Trust in 1965.
The castle is open on Saturdays between 2pm and 5pm from Easter Saturday until the end of September. Admission is free. Special visits may be made by booking in advance by phoning 01229 463293 or 01229 463330.
Traditional methods using local materials are being used to repair the medieval castle, which has been affected by damp. But despite the new pinkish-brown colour, residents and councillors have welcomed the update of the site, built around 1340.
Harry Pilkington, treasurer of the Friends of Dalton Castle, said: “If it does the job, it should be very good. It has got a very sound roof and would make a very good place to live. I think the pink will fade over time. It will be a lot different from what it is now.”
Friends of Dalton Castle chairwoman Angela McCreath said: “I am sure it will look absolutely beautiful, but it will look very different in a few years. It will look pink but it will fade over the next few years. I’m sure there are always a few people who will complain. It will not look like Tobermory.”
Dalton South borough councillor Gordon Murray was delighted with the choice of colour.
He said: “From what I gather, traditional materials are being used so the building can breathe. I think it’s very commendable of them to do this. It will be wonderful. I think pink is a wonderful colour.”
Councillor Dermot O’Connor, chairman of the Dalton Development Partnership, said: “I am really pleased the National Trust is working on this. I am colour blind to the colour. If it makes it more attractive and more practical then I support it.”
The work is being carried out by contractors hired by the castle’s owners, The National Trust. The castle’s six-foot thick tower walls, which rise 40-feet from the ground, are being repaired by removing modern cement pointing and replacing it with traditional lime mortar. Repairs are also being carried out to worn down sandstone dressings and the lead flashing to the parapet.
The new mortar should help the damp escape as opposed to being trapped in denser modern cement. Sand for the mortar will come from nearby Goldmire Quarry mixed with lime.
A National Trust statement said: “This matches the original colour of the mortar which takes on a pale pinkish-brown derived from the local sand. By the use of traditional materials in repairing buildings such as this, the National Trust aims to preserve buildings in their original state for future generations to appreciate.
“The work of re-pointing should be completed by July 2007. However, some improvements to the area around the building are planned as a later phase. The National Trust would like to thank the Friends of Dalton Castle for their support.”
The castle was built by the abbot of Furness who ruled the whole of the area in medieval times. It contained his courtroom, offices, guardrooms, stores and a dungeon for prisoners. It stayed in use as a courthouse for more than 500 years and was owned by the Crown from 1537 and successive dukes from 1661 before it was given to the National Trust in 1965.
The castle is open on Saturdays between 2pm and 5pm from Easter Saturday until the end of September. Admission is free. Special visits may be made by booking in advance by phoning 01229 463293 or 01229 463330.
(North-West Evening Mail - 28 March 2007)
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