The roof was reslated. The roofs of some of the outbuildings were unsafe, and these were taken off; some of the walls, including the entrance archway and cupola, were rebuilt.
Inside the Castle, almost total repair was needed - to floors, walls, doors and windows. These last were copied from some casements that survived, which were probably 18th-century. Where possible existing materials were retained, and there were no structural alterations; only a few later partitions were moved or removed, and two bathrooms and a new kitchen were inserted.
On the ground floor a floor was inserted over the original well chamber, to fit in the bathroom.
On the stairs, the original arrow slits were discovered, but they were too fragile to reopen. The inner reveals were opened up, however, and now serve as niches for the electric lights. The larger windows were inserted in 1890. The original stone steps had been replaced in concrete at the same time.
The dining room had a floor of concrete and cobbles, and this was replaced by old stone paving. The shields on the ceiling had been removed for safekeeping to Campbeltown Museum some years before, and these were reinstated.
In the sitting room the 18th-century moulded plaster ceiling was collapsing; in 1975 a new plain ceiling was inserted, but in 1986 this was replaced with a copy of the original. One of the alcoves also had to be renewed. The pitch pine floorboards, like the other wooden floors in the castle, came from the Scotia Distillery in Campbeltown, which was being altered at the time the restoration work was being carried out. By the window on the left as you come into the sitting room there is a carving by Maxwell Allen of Edinburgh. It contains the numbers of the three architects who were involved in the restoration: David Carr, A.V.J. Tod and Stewart Tod.
One wall of the big second floor bedroom had to be rebuilt, and while work was going on the garderobe closet was discovered. In the smaller bedroom the 16th-century fireplace was found behind a Victorian one. The tartan is Argyll Campbell.
On the third floor the 18th-century Scots fir panelling of the bigger bedroom was mostly rotten, but enough was saved to cover one wall, behind the bed heads. The rest of the room was panelled in new Douglas fir. The top floor had some attic bedrooms, but it was decided to remove these, to make somewhere to run about in wet weather. On the roof the wall walk was reinstated, but bars were placed over the openings of the machicolation for safety.
2024 - 2025 upgrade
We have almost completed our major project to undertake extensive repair and improvement works to conserve and maintain this Category A listed building and enhance the guest experience. The project has included external masonry repairs and complete reharling in a gauged hot lime mortar, timber repair and roofing works. We have carefully reconfigured internal spaces to provide two additional bathrooms and improved kitchen facilities, as well as rearranging bedrooms, upgrading electrics and fully redecorating. We’ve also carried out flood alleviation works in line with Landmark’s sustainability commitments. We are able to undertake these works thanks a generous legacy from the late Simon Pearson, combined with unrestricted funds from Landmark Patrons and Friends, regular donors, raffle players and holiday income.
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