Work is underway to repair the roof of Ilkley Manor House, with specialists aiming to preserve as much of the Grade I listed building's original material as possible.
The project will see the existing stone slates carefully assessed and graded before being relaid, with around 20% currently expected to require replacement. Rather than making the historic roof look new, the work is being carried out to retain its existing character and appearance. The remaining original slates vary in size and thickness, meaning roofing specialists will need to determine where each can be reused while maintaining the existing pattern of the roof. The old slates will also be replaced with their weathered sides facing upwards, rather than being turned over to expose a cleaner surface. Bradford Council guidance for historic stone slate roofs recommends retaining as much original material as possible and advises against turning old slates over because previously unexposed surfaces can be less resistant to weathering. At Ilkley Manor House, retaining the weathered surfaces will also help preserve the aged appearance of the building. Where new stone is required, it will remain distinguishable from the original material rather than being deliberately disguised. This follows conservation principles which recommend that alterations to historic buildings should generally be identifiable on inspection without unnecessarily disrupting their overall appearance. Those involved in the project said the work is also likely to reveal more about the historic building as repairs progress. You can see and hear more from their video below: Further updates are expected as work on the Manor House roof continues.
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