Mussenden Temple
Future-proofing Mussenden Temple
Built in 1785, Mussenden Temple sits on the cliff edge of Downhill Demesne, a coastal property of the National Trust located to the west of Castlerock, County Londonderry.
Exposed to an unpredictable coastal weather, the Temple withstood decades of use before needing extensive repair. Our team was appointed in 2017 to lead surveys, inspections, and advise on urgent conservation works.
Project Lead
- Location Northern Ireland
- Client National Trust
- Completion 2019
Ordering priorities
We first defined a maintenance plan spanning detailed surveys and inspections to prioritise urgent works and coordinate various teams. As a result, an initial phase of wall head and elevation repairs was carried out from 2017 to 2018. This enabled some of the defects to be explored in greater detail, such as the deterioration of the more friable dressed stonework.
Challenging circumstances
The exposed environment of the site turned the repair details and specifications into serious challenges. Embedded ferrous fixings to the stonework further complicated our intervention, along with the need to progress regular maintenance to ensure the site remained open to visitors.
Collaboration for a resilient future
Working in conjunction with the National Trust building surveyors, we provided ongoing advice and support to progress repair solutions that sought to protect and enhance the site for many years to come.
