Cardiff Castle Shares 'Best Practice'

One of the UK's largest restoration projects, Cardiff Castle, demonstrates 'Best Practice' as the first phase Of £8m restoration is completed.

Research reveals similarities between restoring the nation's most important historic buildings and the Victorian terraced house Cardiff Castle - one of the largest restoration projects of its kind in the UK - will host an international symposium on to share the findings of the first phase of work at the 2000-year old site.

The £8million 5-year restoration programme - supported with £5.7m from the Heritage Lottery Fund - is both the largest in Wales and the largest arts conservation project of its type in the UK.

With internal refurbishments due to start in the spring (May), the findings of the extensive programme of research and analysis will be shared at the one-day conference (hosted by Cardiff County Council who own the site).

The findings of the programme of research will not just benefit Cardiff Castle but has potential to benefit other buildings and projects.

The problems found at Cardiff Castle have much in common with the relatively simple Cardiff Victorian terrace.

Many such houses have quite slender solid masonry walls, just like Cardiff Castle.

Speaking at the symposium, Kate Clarke, Deputy Director of Policy and Research at the Heritage Lottery Fund (which is also supporting the symposium), emphasised the importance of using research to inform conservation projects: 'Research is not a luxury to be dispensed with when funding is tight.

It is an essential first step in any conservation project and without it we risk damaging what we value.' Over the past eighteen months, visitors to the Castle have noted monitors and probes within rooms and, outside, the Cardiff Castle weather station.

This has contributed to the programme of research, which has also included: * Lab analysis by Ingram Consultancy in determining mortars that best deter penetrating dampness and identifying repair techniques for thin sold walls.

* Monitoring by Environmental Building Solutions of the environment both inside and outside the building, providing scientific input to help determine how this effects building elements and what would be the most suitable environments.

* Extensive technical analysis of the castle's decorative interiors by Hirst Conservation * Building services engineering by Martin Thomas Associates that will improve environmental conditions at the site The £8million restoration project includes wide-ranging conservation from the masonry Roman Walls and Norman Keep to the very ornate Burges interiors.

The project will open up areas that have not been accessible since World War II - such as the extensive mural galleries inside the embankments and includes new building work, with the creation of a new visitor reception designed by Niall Phillips Architects and the restoration of the basement of the House to create an education centre (Architects: Donald Insall Associates).

Burges masterpiece at risk The 3rd Marquis of Bute was possibly the richest man in the world when he collaborated with architect William Burges, turning Cardiff Castle into a medieval fantasy.

Burges' ornate decoration of astrological symbols, biblical figures and heraldry were painted directly onto slender and exposed solid masonry walls which are now threatened by a varnish seal and which is slowly becoming opaque, has posed problems for the conservation project - likened to the conservation of a complete art gallery, where the paintings are stuck to the walls.

John Edwards, Cardiff Castle Surveyor to the Fabric, who is responsible for leading and developing the conservation work, said: 'One of our main problems is the slenderness of the castle walls to the house.

Here we are making great progress in determining the most appropriate materials and techniques to stop the damp.

'If there ever was an example where art truly meets science in conservation, this is it'.

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