Although the building may not look greatly different inside, progress has certainly been made on the outside!
Both chimneys have been rebuilt and flues installed for the log burning stoves. The east and west gable ends were full of holes under the cement mortar and needed repair.
They have now been pointed in lime mortar, which turns paler as it dries and shows the stonework off instead of obliterating it, as the cement mortar did.
The rear gable end was full of holes and the stonemasons have done a good job of repairing it ready to be pointed also.
Next was the main roof, which was well past it’s useful life. The underside of the slates had been sprayed with foam – a disastrous bodge job. So it has been completely stripped and replaced with reclaimed Welsh slates, which look very smart.
On wetter days work has continued inside with installing new lintels over the fireplaces, internal lime pointing of stone walls which will be exposed and trying to keep tidy after the inevitable mess made by the roofers removing the foam covered slates!
We can now get on with building the roof for the low level extension at the rear and finish pointing the front wall.