Conisbrough Castle – 10 Years Work Ahead

April 1951

South Yorkshire Times April 14, 1951

Conisbrough Castle

10 Years Work Ahead

Work of preservation and renovation is proceeding on Conisbrough’s ancient castle.

Busy there are Wath former monumental mason Wilfred Hoyland, two apprentice masons and two labourers, each employed by the Ministry of Work. After a heavy Easter weekend rain storm, which probably aggravated the condition of the walls and keep, the curator, Mr Reg Ames, explained to the “South Yorkshire Times” while the work is so vital.

A few centuries passing, and heavy rain, snow and frost, have succeeded in cracking the walls and rotting the cement. Now it is possible to pick huge pieces of stone from the walls without any trouble. Cement and mortar have powdered and trees and bushes growing from the walls. Even the most solid looking pieces of masonry are affected – although the keep is in a much better condition than the rest.

Pointing the stone is out of the question. Every loose stone must be taken out until a solid core is reached. Then they can be put back with strong modern cement.

When the job is finished there will still be the same appearance of age. The same face stones are used when possible, and there is no artificial smoothing or pointing. Even the cement is pitted by jets of water just before setting, so as to give an appearance of weathered stone.

And Moss is already beginning to grow on some of the completed wall, as along the untouched parts.

Prospects of Lawns

Trees and bushes have been cut down in the moat. Eventually the moat will probably be deepened and widened until it gets down to the stone linings that are believed to lie beneath the centuries accumulation of soil and vegetation, Then the sides and bottom of the moat may be lawned.

The courtyard, too, will be lawned, and already three old partition walls have been unearthed. Coins have been found, and pottery, and a piece of old stained glass. All have gone away to the London headquarters of the Ministry to be cleaned, preserved, and then, no doubt, put into museums.

The comparatively new stone stairway to the door of the keep will probably be replaced in time by a wooden one. In places where a curtain wall has disappeared a small one will probably be built to show the line which the original one took. It is even possible that at least one of the floors will be replaced in the keep. And, incidentally, that the bottom of the keep holds a dungeon, is disproved. It was a well, going down into fresh water. Rubble, earth and thousands of stones dropped down from above by curious sightseers have all helped to fill it.

There is already a difference inside the keep, as outside. Where in recent months there have been earthen floors, beaten and trodden through the years into the consistency of stone, now there are paved floors.

Some of the steps have been levelled and one plan for the future will put metal grilles over some of the windows.

“Family” Moves In

One unlooked for addition is that of a family of pigeons, who have moved into the chapel.

The workers have already completed about 30 feet of the inside wall. They have a long way to go. If you count up the number of tons of stone likely to be in the castle, and the number of square feet to cover, it can be realised why the job will take at least ten more years.