Cavers Castle

Commercial, Conservation

LOCATION: Hawick, Scottish Borders

CLIENT: Julie and Mike Sharrer

The Vision

Cavers House is a Grade B listed building, currently on the Buildings At Risk Register, located within the Scottish Borders.

The house, now derelict and partially demolished, has played a key role in both local and national historical events. The building has grown from a lofty 14^th century tower which now forms its south east side; but this tower, known locally as the “Warden’s Tower”, may itself be a secondary construction imposed upon the remains of still earlier building.

The house is associated with the Douglas family, who have a notable and rich heritage, and has been subject to much alteration throughout its life, including alterations in the 18^th century before being subject to a radical and extensive baronial overhaul in the late 19^th century by Kinnear & Peddie Architects. Unfortunately, the financial strain of this work along with rapidly changing social and economic conditions saw the eventual demise of the house and partial demolition in 1953.

In 2020, CSY were commissioned by a private client to sensitively conserve, repair and adapt the derelict structure into a private dwelling as well as restore the surrounding grounds.

The Solution

The vision for Cavers House is to restore its existence as a stately home and to make the grounds more accessible for visitors to the area. The proposals seek to save the building, categorised as ‘at risk’, from falling into further ruin and provide a secure future for it in a way that is respectful to the historical character of the building and setting.

Given the building’s historical development over centuries, largely driven by trends and fashion, the new interventions draw on historical reference and contemporary elements to form a new chapter for the building to suit the 21st century.

Working closely with Historic Environment Scotland and the local authority conservation officer at pre-application stage, CSY successfully negotiated the design of dramatic intervention is to the west façade where a contemporary, four-storey loggia with a castellated balustrade provides new residential accommodation. It is intended, in the interests of legibility and authenticity, that this new intervention is finished in harling to contrast with the coursed rubble and ashlar sandstone of the existing fabric.

Aligning heritage and sustainability is a key ambition for Cavers House, with CSY proposing a series of conservation-driven low carbon strategies. Retaining and repairing the existing stone walls and their associated embodied carbon, a breathable envelope of hemp and lime insulation encases the existing structure, improving the thermal performance whilst allowing moisture to pass freely through its rubble core walls. In addition, suitable habitats for identified species such as barn owls and great crested newts have been identified and proposals put forward for enhancement to encourage biodiversity within the wider grounds.

Studies of historic documentation have informed a wider landscape strategy to reinstate the formal grounds which include the repair and re-planting of the walled garden, associated with the renowned Victorian botanist John Scott, and repair of a Georgian ha-ha.

The Conclusion

The repair and proposed interventions to Cavers House presents one of the most ambitious, ongoing heritage projects in the Scottish Borders.

By undertaking a holistic conservation approach, CSY has demonstrated that the regeneration of derelict, historic structures on the Buildings at Risk Register can contribute significantly to the wider cultural, historical and economic wellbeing of the region.