IKO has played a major part in the £1 million restoration of a castle built by Henry VIII.
Hurst Castle was built in Milford-on-Sea in 1544, as one of a chain of coastal fortresses. It was modernised during the Napoleonic wars and again in the 1870s. The current renovation is part of a £1 million project by English Heritage, which began last year.
IKO PLC supplied the mastic asphalt -used to repair the castle’s roof. Significant asphalt repairs were made -to the roof on the West Wing, while the roof on the East Wing was stripped and laid with 150 tonnes of sand and cement screed under 300 tonnes of IKO’s Permaphalt, a polymer-modified mastic asphalt.
IKO also provided technical support throughout the lying of the castle’s new roof to field questions from the roofing team, offer progress reports to Heritage Building and Conservation (a construction company who specialise in the restoration and conversation of historic buildings and monuments) and English Heritage, and check that the work was to specification. Heritage Building and Conservation (South), Infallible Systems and IKO had to work closely together to ensure like-for-like replacements of the original materials.
Most of the work was carried out on a steep 20% slope, and the numerous alterations made to the castle over time meant plans had to be continually adjusted, as variations in the details and materials were uncovered. Workers also had to contest with difficult weather conditions as the site was exposed and only accessible via ferry or a 1.5 mile gravel spit. Materials and waste had to be transported by tractor along the spit and then lifted on and off the roof by telehandler – including three two-tonne asphalt ‘cookers’ that were used to prepare the IKO Permaphalt.
Despite these challenges, the project was finished on schedule and Hurst Castle is back to its former glory.
