If you are already familiar with the work we do at Taylor and Fraser, you will appreciate we frequently get involved with unusual projects. Many of these involve historic buildings, which present their particular challenges.

The most recent example is the work we have just completed at Hawthornden Castle, which dates from the 15th century and, like many Scottish castles and stately homes, has been continually adapted and extended.

In this instance, under the stewardship of Benjamin Tindall Architects and Irons Foulner, Taylor & Fraser Ltd were commissioned to install a new underground water main to support a new fire hydrant infrastructure as part of the ongoing redevelopment of the castle. So, how do you go about laying a 450-meter, below-ground water main system at such a historic and isolated location along the only access route lined with protected trees and consequent inhibition to the remaining works? The castle stands on an isolated rock above the gorge of the river North Esk and, although only seven miles from Edinburgh, is surrounded by woods. We chose to use a Moling/Directional Drilling system.

The Moling/Direct Drilling system utilises ground access pits, which are formed by soil vacuum. The Moling technique drills a hole through the ground between the access pits. Then the PVC water main is then pulled through the drilled formed holes. Following this, the sections are then joined together using a fusion welding system to create one continuous length of pipe.

This system is much less disruptive than traditional trenching, which can be highly invasive, so we managed to avoid any short and long-term damage to landscaping and driveways. In addition, by avoiding extensive excavation and subsequent restoration, we reduced the cost of the project.

However, some benefits go beyond cost considerations; Moling/Direct Drilling is kinder to the environment. The system reduces soil displacement and the impact on the local ecosystem, making it a greener alternative to conventional trenching.

Finally, we could complete the project much faster, which minimised any convenience to the castle owners and users. So, we are strong advocates of the Moling/Direct Drilling option, especially when working in locations such as Hawthornden Castle.

The castle was formerly the home of the poet William Drummond of Hawthornden (1585 – 1649), who completed his restoration of the building in 1638. It was at Hawthornden that Drummond received his friend, the poet and playwright Ben Jonson, in 1619 on his celebrated walk from London to Scotland. The castle remained in the hands of the Drummond family until the 1970s. In 1982, it was bought by Drue Heinz, the international philanthropist and patron of the arts, with the intention of founding a literary retreat similar to other retreats in the United States. The routine and organisation of the residency program remain those originally devised by Drue Heinz herself.

Hawthornden Castle has a rich and important history, so archaeologists oversaw the work to ensure the building and its ground’s integrity were maintained at all times; this included special tree protection works in compliance with Arboriculture Method Statements working hand in hand with Arbor Vitae.

Speaking about this important project, Taylor and Fraser’s Construction Director, Angus MacInnes, said: “We were delighted to be appointed to carry out this work for Hawthornden Castle; it’s a testament to our reputation in working at historic locations. We were also mindful of the history of the castle, and our Moling/Direct Drilling solutions were clearly the best option for a number of reasons.

“The outcome is that the project has been delivered in a very cost-efficient and timely manner, with very little, if any, evidence that such extensive work has taken place in the castle grounds”.