Oxburgh Hall

Key Facts

Client: National Trust

Principal Contractor: N.F Coverdale Ltd Building Contractor

Equipment: A Bronto T50JB truck mounted platform with a working height of 50 metres

Project: Part of on-going maintenance and repair work to help restore the National Trust’s Oxburgh Hall to its former glory, Nationwide Platforms provided N.F Coverdale Ltd one of its large truck mounted platforms to help remove moss, lichen and algae from the property’s roof and walls as well as clear gutters and replace missing and broken tiles.

The Challenge

Built in 1482, Oxburgh Hall is a Grade I listed manor house surrounded by a large water-filled moat. As well as presenting challenges around how to safely and efficiently carry out the necessary work at height, the manor house’s historical importance meant that all work needed to be planned and delivered with particular consideration to preventing any damage. Still open to the general public, appropriate measures were also required to ensure the work was carried out in a safe manner and with minimal disruption.

The Solution

Following a site survey to assess the extent of the work and ensure ground conditions were suitable, a Bronto T50JB truck mounted platform was chosen to carry out the work. Offering a 50 metre working height and up to 35 metre outreach, the T50JB not only provided a safe solution to working over the eight metre wide moat, it also granted workers unrestricted access to all aspects of the manor including its roof, windows, chimneys, crenellations and guttering. It also reduced time and labour constraints often demanded of traditional means of access, such as the use of scaffolding.

The Benefits

The T50JB’s extendable platform basket, coupled with an impressive 600kg capacity, allowed three operators to quickly and systematically clean up to four metres of the roof before repositioning the boom. Nationwide Platforms also provided a highly experienced operator to safely manage and control all movements to prevent any accidental damage or impact to the building. Finally, the use of the truck mounted platform, in conjunction with an effective pedestrian management system, ensured minimal distraction to visiting guests, who were still able to view the all aspects of the manor house as opposed to it being enshrouded by scaffolding.

Customer Quote

Alex Lassoued, Property Operations Manager at Oxburgh Hall, said:

“As the manager of a historic building with significant environmental and heritage conservation considerations, it was critical that I worked with a company that understood my needs, and were able to conduct themselves accordingly. On the day of the work we were also open to visitors. I am happy to say that from the moment N.F Coverdale and Nationwide Platforms arrived they filled me with confidence, ensuring that they set up with the appropriate environmental controls, operated the platform with the upmost of care round historic architectural features, and ensured any impact to our visitors was minimised.”

Did you know?

Part of the site survey carried out prior to work commencing included the inspection of the moat and the depth of its water. Given its shallowness, harnesses and lanyards were chosen as part of the safe system of work.