Connect Scaffolding were awarded a prestigious restoration project on Audley End House one of England’s grandest stately homes. An early 17th-century country house south of Cambridge, built to entertain royalty, set in parkland designed by Capability Brown and renowned as one of the finest Jacobean houses in England.

Conservation specialists working for English Heritage needed to carefully restore key features of the house on the rear elevations including the North and South Wings of the property, with major repairs required to the exterior stone facades and windows.
The installation – undertaken at Audley End House in Saffron Walden by Connect provided a bespoke access solution and large span, temporary roofing encapsulation. The project provided multi-level access to the building and weather protection for the roof area.

The installation was free-standing to minimise contact with the building structure whilst a clean façade line and both pedestrian and vehicle access to the front elevations and west wing were also key objectives.

The Layher Keder XL roof was built in bay sections at ground level and then craned into position sheeting. The translucent design also meant the maximum benefit of the natural light could be provided for the restoration work.

A GEDA Platform hoist was installed by Connect’s Hoist Team to provide safe and easy access for raising the scaffold materials to each level, this was then left in place for the clients use.

All works had to be completed over the winter months in time for the house opening to the public in the Spring. An initial programme of 6 weeks had been allowed to erect the scaffold. With an experienced site team and collaboration throughout, Connect completed the project in just under 5 weeks giving the client a critical extra week to carry out their work.