Through the Roof - FuturepROOFing Coughton

April 24

The beginning of Phase 2

During the first half of 2024 the scaffolding for phase 2 has been slowly erected across the tower ready for the phase 2 work begin in April 2024.

This spring scale new heights with our visitor scaffolding, experience this once in lifetime opportunity to learn about the Through the Roof: FuturepROOFing Coughton Court in new ways by observing the work taking place, witness the stunning views of the Alcester countryside and see how fast your coin can land at the bottom of the scaffolding with our all-new coin drop.

April 24

Finishing Phase 1

As phase 1 comes to its completion the new roof will soon be revealed with the removal of phase 1 scaffolding and sheeting both internally and externally. We are also welcoming back our Bat specialist to review the roof space as the bats will soon return to their homes inside the roof space and roost throughout the summer.

The removal of the sheeting and scaffolding is now taking place with this due to completed in May 2024.

March 24

Finishing Touches

As we come to end of phase 2 the slating and tiling is nearing completion including the personalised tiles completed as part of the tag a tile events located in the left corner of the courtyard, close to the flat roof and will be visible once the phase 1 scaffolding has been removed later in 2024.

The team also received some reports regarding the Dendrochronology survey highlighting that some of beams in the roof date back to the 1540s. Coughton Court has also seen various Archaeologists have been onsite with some excavating pits for the scaffolding lighting protection across many interesting findings including brick walls by the south wing, roof tiles and historic rubble.

Throughout April, works will continue down the sides of the building by our wonderful carpenters, plasterers, and stonemasons to finish the remaining repairs, before the scaffold is remove in its entirety.

February 24

Through the Roof the exhibition

Come and explore the new experience within the house telling stories that may not have been heard before. Learn about the people that have lived at Coughton Court over the last 600 years and how they have influenced the architecture over this time.

Located in the Coach House visitors can dive deeper into the £3.3 million project learning all about the behind-the-scenes secrets. Hear from the experts that are supporting the project in the new behind the curtain video. Explore life as a Coughton Court bat in the new bat cave complete with sounds and smells. Witness the fascinating finds and samples from the project including bricks, slates, and tiles.

January 24

New Year New Roof

As we step into 2024, all the internal gutters have been repaired and improved using the wooden trough design which has allowed for wider more modern piping to increase the capacity of water flowing through the guttering at one time. This design also encourages birds to build nests in their own environment rather than the internal gutters.

Throughout January the roof is starting to be put back together with new felting being added, tiles are starting to be reinstated, timber/mortar and bricks being conserved or replaced where needed.

December 23

Repairs, Replacements and Findings

As 2023 ends the Through the Project didn’t slow down with the project team were busy discussing and agreeing with various contractors’ material samples for use on the building where the original material needs replacing or can no longer be used. Some of the samples that have been agreed include bricks, mortar, slates, and paint all which match the property as it is.

The Roof is now completely bare as all the lead, tiles and slates have been removed with some of the tiles being put aside for the first tag a tile event taking place during December 2023. All the tiles are being stored in a safe place ready for them to go back on the roof in the new year. The carpenters are now working on installing new timbers on the lead roof and in the valleys to support the gutters.

Archaeologists have also been onsite recently recording all the roof graffiti that has been found where 8 footprints have been identified and recorded with some of them even having dates and initials next to them. These have been marked up and have been carefully cut out to be stored so they can be put back onto the roof in the new year.

November 23

Coughton in the news

As part of the National Trust’s climate adaptation report, Coughton Court welcomed a reporter from the BBC to site to sit down with the team to understand how climate change has been a contributing factor in the need for the Through the Roof project.

You may have spotted various members of the team speaking around the project on both the BBC breakfast and Channel 5 evening news. Through the Roof: FuturepROOFing Coughton Court also featured in a BBC article around climate adaption report which can still be viewed on the BBC website.

November 23

Full Steam Ahead

During November it is full steam ahead with the removal of old tiles and slates to expose the timber underneath to assess their conditions. This timber will then be assessed by contractors who will review the condition of the wood to understand which bits need conserving. This also gives the unique opportunity of understanding the history of the roof including the age of the timbers with a Dendrochronology survey.

September 23

Scaffolding inside and out

During October as the scaffolding hits new heights the house and collections team have been busy getting inside of house for internal scaffolding to be completed. This means that staircase chandelier needed to be taken down and stored with its new home in the saloon.

This means that visitors can now get up close to the chandeliers in the Saloon and see the behind the scenes of the how these beautiful pieces are conserved by the team.

September 23

Through the Roof Commences

During September 2023 the Through the Roof: FuturepROOFing Coughton Court officially began. The project, which is costing £3.3 million aims to converse and restore the roof and façade of Coughton Court. It is with thanks to the generosity of National Trust members, supporters, donors, and grant funding from the Wolfson Foundation.

Through the next 22-month programme as the scaffolding scales the building this will allow various elements of the house, roof, and façade to be repair, restored, and conserved allowing generations to come to continue to enjoy Coughton Court

August 23

Protecting the collection

Before any work can begin the House and Collections team had to make sure that the collection was safe. During the summer of 2023, many paintings were moved into the Panelled Dining Room on specialist racking with some being re-hung in different rooms with the house. The Tapestries had to be rolled and stored and other items had to be carefully placed in a safe location ready for the project to begin.