Clock Lodge roof work
LOCHGILPHEAD’S Clock Lodge is undergoing work to replace its roof.
PAINSTAKING work on Lochgilphead’s historic Clock Lodge marches on with the removal of its dilapidated roof.
Lochgilphead firm MacLeod Construction has been contracted by the building’s prospective ‘lodger’, Harbro, to redevelop the roof on the iconic 19th-century building and make it wind and watertight.
Philip Cryans, MacLeod site manager, told the Advertiser: ‘We are week three into an eight-week project to reconstruct the roof.
‘Looking into the building’s interior, it contained four rooms with arched ceilings, almost vaulted, with steel girders. It could very well have been a coach house for a larger estate.
‘Removing the roof has been an extensive job and as you can imagine it takes time to remove the rubble and debris. But it was an eyesore in its previous state; it gives the building a new lease of life.’
Mr Cryans explained the latest stage of work on the lodge’s roof.
He said: ‘New trusses arrived at the end of last week so fitting those has been the next step.
‘As a joiner by trade I really admire the building – it has elements of Versailles and Bavarian styles. For being done by hand, the brickwork is incredible, very solid. It is lovely to see it up close from a construction point of view.’ Character
MacLeod quantity surveyor David Carey said: ‘We have been very careful to maintain the character of the building to the exact specifications. Indeed, surveys were carried out on the building by a specialist company to ensure the structure was rebuilt to be the exact same as before.’
The Clock Lodge’s facelift is being led by the Lochgilphead Phoenix Project (LPP), which entered into a long lease agreement with Harbro earlier this year. The firm intend to create a purpose-built farm store within the building.
Malcolm Sinclair, LPP secretary, said: ‘Our aim has been to bring the Clock Lodge back into use for the benefit of the local community.
‘Initially, the proposal was for LPP to take ownership of the lodge and its site but in 2013 Harbro expressed an interest in acquiring the whole site, including the lodge, and wanted to develop the southern end as a wholesale and retail farm supplies outlet and warehouse.
‘Harbro has arranged the required initial repair and weather-tight works for the lodge; this was a condition set at the planning application stage before work could commence on any warehouse.’