Safeguarding a Library through sensitive Roof Renewal

Built in the 1620s for George Calvert, founder of Maryland, Kiplin Hall has been home to four families over more than 400 years. The Gothic library extension dates to around 1820.

In 2024, Kiplin Hall Trust received MEND (Museum and Estate Development Fund) funding from Arts Council England to replace the slates covering the library roof and carry out general repairs to the high-level masonry on the library wing. DIA was appointed to deliver the programme of repairs and interventions whilst protecting the building’s historic fabric and special character.

The project incorporated a series of material upgrades designed to improve the building’s long-term performance and resilience while respecting its historic character. New breathable, natural insulation was installed within the roof void to enhance thermal efficiency in the most frequently occupied areas of the Hall, while existing copper gutter linings were replaced with durable stainless steel alternatives. Rainwater outlets were also renewed and existing hoppers and downpipes repaired, strengthening the building’s ability to manage intense rainfall and helping to protect this important heritage asset.

The repair works were guided by a conservation-led philosophy, ensuring the maximum retention of historic fabric. The Westmorland green slate roof was renewed, with approximately half of the existing slates salvaged and reincorporated into the new covering. Splice repairs were carried out to the timber roof structure, preserving as much original material as possible. Further works included the like-for-like replacement of decayed masonry and the repointing of masonry with traditional lime mortar.
The Hall remained open to visitors six days a week throughout the project, and the completed work will protect the unique interiors of the library wing for future generations.