Engineered scaffolding and temporary roofing for the restoration of a Grade I-listed country house
The restoration of Wentworth Woodhouse, one of the UK's most significant historic country houses, required a bespoke scaffolding and weather protection solution. With a 185-metre-long façade, sensitive architectural features and restrictions on fixing scaffolding to the listed building, the project demanded extensive temporary works engineering. Brand Access Solutions developed a CUPLOK® scaffolding system incorporating ground anchors, heavy-duty beams and public access facilities.
Scope
Wentworth Woodhouse is a Grade I-listed country house in South Yorkshire, renowned for its 185-metre-long façade, one of the longest of any country house in Europe.
Brand Access Solutions, formerly Lyndon SGB, was appointed by main contractor Robert Woodhead/Woodhead Group to provide scaffolding, access and temporary weather protection for the restoration of the historic building.
The project involved works across approximately 1,500 m² of historic roof area. The access package comprised an in-house designed CUPLOK® system scaffold, heavy-duty beams, temporary roofing and dedicated public access staircases.
The scaffolding structures reached heights of up to 30 metres and required approximately 700 tonnes of material and 50,000 metres of scaffolding tube. An average of ten scaffolding operatives worked on site.
Scaffolding works commenced in February 2019, with completion originally anticipated before the end of 2020.
Challenge
The Grade I-listed status of Wentworth Woodhouse imposed significant restrictions on the design and installation of the scaffolding. Conventional ties to the building could not be used, requiring an alternative method of securing the extensive temporary structures. Given the size and weight of the scaffolding, the support system also had to accommodate substantial structural loads and provide stability under wind loading.
The building's historic architectural features presented further challenges. Several large decorative urns, each weighing approximately 600 kg, had to be accommodated within the scaffold design without interfering with the sensitive building fabric.
In addition to providing access for restoration works, the scaffolding had to incorporate safe public access routes and viewing areas, allowing visitors to observe the renovation while work continued.
The scale of the temporary roofing and scaffolding, together with delays associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, added further complexity to the project.
Amy Stamford, Woodhead Group Quantity Surveyor said: “Brand Access Solutions have been a great asset to the team at Wentworth, from their early involvement to the day-to-day work on site, the relationship has always been excellent. The project at Wentworth Woodhouse has been very challenging and Brand Access Solutions have consistently gone above and beyond to support Woodhead Group as the main contractor. From a quality perspective, their work has always been of exemplary standard and we would not hesitate to work with them again in the future.”
Performance
Brand Access Solutions developed a bespoke CUPLOK® scaffolding solution engineered around the structural and conservation requirements of Wentworth Woodhouse.
Instead of fixing the scaffolding directly to the listed building, the structures were secured using specially designed ground anchors. These were drilled into the ground and configured to resist uplift forces generated by strong winds.
Heavy-duty fittings and beams were incorporated to accommodate the size and weight of the scaffolding structures. Bespoke scaffold frames were also constructed around the historic 600 kg decorative urns, allowing the access system to accommodate these architectural features.
The temporary roofing provided weather protection for the restoration works across approximately 1,500 m² of historic roof area. Dedicated staircases and viewing platforms enabled public tours to continue, allowing visitors to observe the restoration from designated areas.
Close collaboration with Woodhead Group from the early planning stages allowed the access arrangements to be tailored to the project's evolving requirements.
The main contractor praised the quality of the scaffolding works and the cooperation between the project teams. The project also received positive feedback during visits by representatives of the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC).
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Important Note.
Lyndon SGB rebranded to Brand Access Solutions on February 4, 2025.
Projects were delivered at the time under the trading names of: Lyndon SGB, SGB, Lyndon Scaffolding or Taylor’s Hoists.