Abbey set for delicate damp work

Dryburgh Abbey - (c) Crown copyright reproduced courtesy of Historic Scotland Enlarge Image

A delicate project is under way to protect the Chapter House at Dryburgh Abbey near Melrose from the damaging effects of damp.

The 12th Century building contains traces of some of the earliest medieval paintwork in the country.

Historic Scotland, which looks after the abbey, is seeking to stop water seeping in from below ground level.

The work is being carried out by archaeologists as it involves digging in what was once a burial ground.

Historic Scotland district architect Peter Ranson said it was a major scheme for them.

"This is a highly important conservation project which has been carefully planned to protect the Chapter House, which is a fabulous piece of Scotland's heritage," he said.

Any discoveries will be studied by our experts and will add to our understanding of the abbey and its history Peter Ranson Historic Scotland

"Water needs to be drawn away from the base of the building to stop it seeping through and damaging medieval stonework and paintings."

Given the sensitive nature of the area being excavated Mr Ranson said experts had been called in.

"As the work is in a particularly significant area of a nationally important site, it is being dealt with as a professional archaeological excavation," he said.

"Any discoveries will be studied by our experts and will add to our understanding of the abbey and its history."

Anyone wishing to view the works can use a temporary platform designed to give visitors a bird's eye view.

An archaeologist will also be available - on request - for half an hour at 10am and 3pm each day to talk to the public about the work.