Royal residence transformation receives princely seal of approval

Hillsborough Castle is the official residence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, as well as all members of the Royal Family and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Historic Royal Palaces set out an ambitious programme of works to completely transform the castle and grounds.

The project included major renovations and the addition of two new visitor centres. The contract comprised 13 individual roofs, with the primary coverings including new Welsh natural slates and Canadian Glendyne natural slates.

Several roofs were stripped to re-use the existing natural slates, thereby making up the shortfall with salvaged Welsh slate.

The hip design to the two gatehouses and three bespoke ventilators used close mitred slates weathered by lead soakers, while two finials were designed specially to depict the past history: a golden pineapple as grown in the grounds in the 18th century and a pair of golden doves.

The judges remarked that the attention to detail with the close mitred hips and the ridge-work was outstanding.

And during a visit to Hillsborough Castle, the Prince of Wales hoped that ‘this programme and the wonderful building produced can serve as a means of engendering support and enthusiasm for traditional building craft skills in Northern Ireland’.