Taymouth Castle
Name of Building: Taymouth Castle
Location:
Listing: Category A
Project: Taymouth Castle’s construction began in 1801 under John Campbell, the 1st Marquess of Breadalbane. It is a witness of a fantasised medieval past. It encompasses all the main features of Gothic Revival architecture, with crenelations, round towers, ribbed openings, all a reminder of the fortified castles of the middle-ages. It comprises an incredible collection of stained glass from the 16thto the mid-19thcenturies.
RGS conserved the stained glass windows of the Grand Staircase and the Banner Hall. They both had different issues, such as their glazing methods, leading to different conservation strategies.
Conservation Approach: RGS conserved with very different methods the existing glazing of the Grand Staircase and the Banner Hall, and had to adapt these areas of stained glass to create the ideal conditions for the longevity of the glass, known as environmental protective glazing (or EPG). RGS also conserved the Gothic lanterns which hang in the Barons Hall.
The Grand Staircase: The Grand Staircase windows date from 1812 and contain the heraldry of the family. It is one of the rare examples left of vibrant Georgian stained glass panels by William Collins of London, enameller to the King. The staircase was glazed in a contrast of highly decorative Georgian / Regency style stained-glass in the upper and lower shaped cusps and all top tracery, while the main lights are glazed in clear glass glazing. Unfortunately, this glazing scheme has been altered in the past, possibly in 1840 by removing most of the original glazing scheme to replace it with Crown glass to get more light in. RGS found historical evidence reinforced by on-site observations, which corroborates the fact that the crown glass dates from a later intervention.
The scope of work focuses on the eight staircase windows within Taymouth Castle. Being a category A listed building, the client had specific requirements which contributed to establish the conservation strategy. They are five main aspects dictating the whole conservation project: safety, authenticity, stability, accessibility, internally ventilated EPG.
Overall, the stained glass panels were in a poor condition. They showed severe signs of deterioration, such as breaks within the solder joints and the lead matrix, instability, and a high concentration of cracks in the glass with missing glass segments. The lead had become not fit for purpose in terms of its function as the structural element of the panel. The glass was very thin, measuring 1-1.5mm, and much of it was broken.
Due to our installation of an effective EPG system, RGS were able to retain and bond the original glass with epoxy resin, securing with plating systems and using resin infills in smaller areas of loss which were ‘cold’ painted to match. The rendering of the glass painting in these windows resembles a canvas painting, with multiple layers applied to create a three-dimensional effect. The opaque background allows the delicate tracing lines and careful shading to be fully appreciated. The characteristic tangerine amber colour of silver stain needed to be replicated to match the lost glass, and RGS conducted extensive tests for this.
We have conserved and protected the stained glass, and have refixed it in a manner that will preserve it for many years to come.
The Banner Hall : The Banner Hall was the second phase of the project focusing on another main area of the castle. It involved the removal, conservation, and reinstallation of five windows (n1-n3, s1-s2). The nineteenth-century stained glass was all made in 1840-41 by the studio of William Cooper of Edinburgh, and was commissioned in anticipation of a visit from Queen Victoria in 1842. Window s1 is the most significant of the stained glass at Taymouth, as it includes five panels of medieval stained glass. Four of these panels have a Tree of Jesse theme c.1490-1520, and one is a heraldic panel, dating from c.1550, and they were made by the prestigious Augsburg stained glass workshop – one of the finest medieval stained glass workshops in the world. The nineteenth-century scheme in the Banner Hall is inspired by this medieval glass: there is a replica of the heraldic panel and two panels which continue the Tree of Jesse theme. The tracery panels are full of foliage and twisting branches, and all the decorative stained glass has borders which imitate the style and colours of the medieval glass.
This large-scale project involved the removal of all the main lights of the five windows in the Banner Hall, many of which were severely deteriorated, and some selected tracery panels which were too damaged to be repaired on site. The panels were recorded, dismantled, cleaned, with stained glass pieces being bonded and plated where necessary. The medieval stained glass was recorded and conserved meticulously, and returned with a bespoke environmental protective glazing (EPG) system. The outer glazing layer was made with historic crown glass removed from the Grand Staircase windows, possibly also made by William Cooper. This EPG system has created the ideal conditions for the glass, and has enabled us to use materials which otherwise would not be possible. This beautiful medieval stained glass, newly-discovered within this Scottish baronial castle, has been preserved through conservation, and the team at Rainbow Glass Studio were proud to have returned the five windows of the Banner Hall to their former glory.
The Banner Hall medallions: The conservation of the Banner Hall Medallions was carried out in partnership with Iona Art Glass, based in Northumberland. This set of windows is very peculiar due to its intricate design. The roundels’ designs were copied from another stained glass window in the Baron’s Hall by William Raphael Eginton, which dates to 1813-14. They are richly decorated with grisaille paint, enamels and silver stain. There is also beautiful acid work done on these panels. The roundels have been removed to be placed internally for protection due to their fragile surface decoration.
Before
Grand staircase windows
Banner Hall
After
Lanterns
Final video of installation
