02 — KIPLIN HALL

A Grade I listed Jacobean house

Kiplin Hall is a nationally significant historic building dating from the early seventeenth century and set within an extensive estate near Richmond, North Yorkshire.

The house was constructed for George Calvert, later First Baron Baltimore, and has evolved over several centuries through successive periods of ownership, alteration and repair.

The architectural composition is particularly distinctive, with four principal corner towers, stone parapets, substantial chimney stacks and a series of traditional slated roof areas concealed behind the masonry.

Kiplin Hall & Gardens →

03 — THE ROOFSCAPE

Slate roofs concealed behind stone parapets

The roof coverings comprise traditional Westmorland slate, much of which is concealed from ground level behind decorative stone parapet walls.

Large lead-lined gutters collect water from the roof slopes before discharging through outlets formed through the masonry.

From these outlets, rainwater is transferred into decorative lead hopper heads and purpose-made lead downpipes before being taken safely towards ground level.

This combination of slate, stone and lead creates a roof system in which the junctions between materials are as important as the principal roof covering itself.

07 — TIMBER REPAIRS

Opening-up revealed additional defects

As the slate and leadwork were removed, areas of defective timber became visible that could not reasonably have been assessed before the work commenced.

The affected sections included timber associated with the gutter substrates and parts of the supporting roof construction.

Localised repairs, replacement sections and structural bracing were undertaken where required, allowing sound substrates to be recreated before the new weathering layers were installed.

This is a recurring feature of heritage roofing work: the visible covering may be only one part of the defect, and decisions often need to be made after previously concealed construction has been exposed.

11 — WORKING ON A LIVE HERITAGE SITE

Adapting the programme around the building

The initial roofing programme was approximately four weeks.

As with many historic sites, however, the programme had to remain flexible. Wildlife activity, including bees within the area of work, required parts of the programme to be adjusted.

The need to work around existing fabric, site activity and unexpected conditions is a normal part of undertaking specialist work on substantial historic buildings.

12 — HISTORIC CONTINUITY

Traditional skills across generations

The project archive includes historic photographs showing earlier roofing work carried out at Kiplin Hall.

Working practices, access arrangements and health and safety requirements have changed considerably over time, but many of the traditional roofing principles remain recognisable.

Westmorland slate continues to require skilled setting-out, while properly detailed leadwork still depends upon understanding bay sizes, movement, substrate preparation and water management.

14 — SKILLS REQUIRED

Traditional roofing and conservation skills

• Westmorland slating in random widths and diminishing courses
• Careful salvage and grading of historic slate
• Specialist lead gutter work
• Lead outlet and interface detailing
• Traditional roof joinery
• Structural timber repairs and bracing
• Stone masonry repairs
• Lime-mortar pointing
• Working with existing listed-building fabric

15 — MATERIALS USED

Compatible materials for a historic roof

• Reclaimed Westmorland slate
• Matching replacement Westmorland slate
• Code 5 rolled lead sheet
• Code 6 rolled lead sheet
• Proctor Roofshield membrane
• Treated softwood battens
• Structural timber sections
• Lime mortar
• Appropriate stainless steel and non-ferrous fixings