Cookies

We use necessary cookies to make our site work. We'd also like to set optional analytics cookies to help us improve it. We won't set optional cookies unless you enable them or accept our recommended settings. Using this tool will set a cookie on your device to remember your preferences.

Options
Necessary cookies enable core functionality on our website. You may disable these by changing your browser settings, but this may affect how the website functions.
We use marketing cookies to personalise your visit to our website and show you tailored advertising based on your likes and interests.
We use analytics cookies to monitor visitor behaviour patterns and improve our website performance.

Your preferences have been set. If you wish to change your preferences, you may do so on our cookies page.

Search My Trust
Join now
Join
Close

Looking for places? Use our place search to find them by name, town or postcode.

See all stories
2 Nov 2022

Crathes painted ceilings project: successfully completed

Conservator Karen Dundas explains the complexities and highlights of the Crathes ceilings project.

Transcript

We are in the process of consolidating paint to make sure that it's secure. Consolidating the plaster on the frieze for decoration that dates back to around about 1600. Just to make sure that everything is in really good condition and is stable and will survive for longer.


We had to consider -- mostly for the other spaces in the castle which had been over-painted by the Victorians -- we had to take into account that we've got two different paint layers and think about how they differ, whether they differ, understand how they can be treated and whether it's possible to use the same materials for both.


It's amazing, in that it's one of the few buildings that still has decoration from the Scottish Renaissance intact. All down the east coast of Scotland, there are bits and pieces of this kind of decoration. Crathes is one of the few survivals, and the Trust are amazingly lucky because they've got quite a few properties like Gladstone's Land in Edinburgh on the Royal Mile and Culross Palace in Fife, where decoration from this era still survives.


I think exciting things like finding orpiment, which is a pigment that would have been used in special situations where somebody has got quite a bit of money. It's arsenic sulfide, so it's quite poisonous. But it is amazing because you can't tell it's there. It looks a bit grey-white. And then when you've consolidated it and the surface is cleaned a little bit, you see the yellow and that's exciting. Finding remains of decoration that pre-dates the early decoration is exciting.


People are fascinated and it's really great to be able to discuss what you're doing. It's been a real experience explaining to the public about what we do and how we're conserving the ceilings and we're not over-painting them. We are making sure they're secure, making sure the decoration survives as long as it possibly can, and that the Trust are caring for the decoration in the property.

A painstaking conservation project on the historic painted walls and ceilings at the 16th-century Crathes Castle is now complete.

We were able to successfully complete this essential conservation work thanks to a £250,000 Annual Repair Grant funded by Historic Environment Scotland (HES). Crathes Castle is one of the few places in the country that has intact original decoration from the Scottish Renaissance.

The grant enabled us to consolidate the painted ceilings at Crathes to protect their beauty for future generations. Conservation experts also analysed samples of the original paint to enrich our existing knowledge of materials, pigments, techniques and the castle’s evolution. In addition, the HES grant will support other conservation-standard repair projects at National Trust for Scotland properties over the coming year.

Expand image 1: Two women are at work conserving old wooden beams in a castle, which are decorated with painted designs. The lady in the foreground wears blue nitrile gloves. The lady in the background stands on a scaffold platform and is covering a tapestry on the wall with a see-through plastic sheet. Expand image 2: A close-up shot of two hands wearing blue nitrile gloves, using a scalpel to scrape away a layer of white paint to reveal an original painted design underneath.

Karen Dundas, Accredited Wall Painting Conservator, said: ‘The work that we have done at Crathes was an extremely delicate procedure as we’re dealing with over 400 years of history and various levels of intervention.’

Quote
“In spaces where early decoration survives unaltered, it was thrilling to see original designs and colours come to life as we very carefully secured and cleaned the paintings to reinstate their full glory.”
Karen Dundas
Accredited Wall Painting Conservator

Standing against a backdrop of rolling hills and set beside glorious gardens, Crathes Castle is every inch the classic Scottish tower house. Built by Alexander Burnett in the 16th century, it was the home of the Burnett family for over 350 years. But the family’s roots in Aberdeenshire go back even further, to 1323 when Robert the Bruce granted them nearby land. He is also said to have gifted them the Horn of Leys, which takes pride of place over the fireplace in the castle’s Great Hall.

The painted ceilings date back to the beginning of the 17th century and demand constant conservation due to the combined impacts of fluctuating humidity and temperature, seasonal movement of timbers as well as operating as a popular visitor attraction. The conservation project on the painted walls and ceilings, carried out as part of our ten-year Nature, Beauty & Heritage for Everyone strategy, helps to provide visitors with an engaging and authentic experience as they explore the history of Crathes Castle.

Expand image 1: A woman stands on a stepladder in the middle of a room in a castle. She is working on one of the ceiling beams, which is covered in a vibrant painted decoration. Expand image 2: A view of the Room of Nine Nobles in Crathes Castle, looking up to take in the original wooden beams in the ceiling, covered with painted decoration of noble characters.

Amy Eastwood, Head of Grants at Historic Environment Scotland, said: ‘We are delighted to continue our long-established funding relationship with the National Trust for Scotland through the Annual Repair Grant and see the great work constantly being done to preserve some of the country’s most iconic sites. Scotland’s heritage assets bring a whole host of benefits to local communities, from boosting economies to increasing wellbeing. We look forward to seeing the outcome of the works carried out by the Trust over the next 12 months at these properties that have been part of shaping Scotland’s story.’

Explore Crathes Castle

Visit now

Featured Places

A view of the top section of Crathes Castle, showing the clock tower against a bright blue sky. The yellow leaves of a large tree frame the shot.
Place

Crathes Castle

Painted ceilings and family portraits adorn this turreted castle, set among sculpted yew trees and nature trails

Aberdeen City & Shire

Read next

Wooden ceiling beams are covered in painted decorations of kings and queens, heraldic symbols and animal faces. They are mostly painted blue and shades of orange and brown.

Crathes painted ceilings project: an introduction

Enjoy our first update from the major conservation project currently taking place at Crathes Castle.

A close-up image detailing the medieval painting of a knight's torso, wearing armour and holding a sword across his body.

Crathes painted ceilings project: delicate work progressing

With the conservation of the Room of the Nine Nobles and the Stair Chamber now complete, we take a look at their history, the conservators’ process and some early findings.

A view of Falkland Palace from across the large lawn area. Tree branches frame the shot, casting their shadow onto the grass below.

Grateful for repair grant support

Annual Repair Grant funding from Historic Environment Scotland is helping us carry out repairs and maintenance across the country.

Large vehicles help to clear a road of storm damage

Your Gift in Action – spring 2025

As a charity, we rely on the generosity of our supporters to care for, share and speak up for Scotland‘s heritage.

Read more stories on

Back to top