Conservation And Restoration

The Graceful and Restrained Interiors of Culzean constitute some of the finest later work of Robert Adam and his team of artists/craftsmen. The ceiling roundels were painted by Antonio Zucchi, and the important marble chimney pieces were executed by Peter Henderson of Edinburgh. The original carpet in the Saloon was, by tradition, made locally; it was particularly appropriate that the new carpet for that room should also be manufactured not far from Culzean.

The National Trust for Scotland began a full restoration scheme of the interior of the castle in 1972. With advice from the Victoria & Albert Museum and under the helpful eye of Rab Snowden of the Stenhouse Conservation Centre in Edinburgh, it was approached from three aspects. First, there was historical research which included a careful study of Adam drawings in the Soane Museum, London and other documentary material, as well as technical research into the methods and materials used in the 18th century.

Secondly, a careful physical investigation was made, not only to establish the original colour scheme, but also to discover the decorative treatments applied at different periods: picture rails and wallpapers had to be carefully removed and a full examination of the paint strata on all decorated surfaces carried out. Lastly, a chemical analysis and micro-cross-section examination of the paint samples was made in order to clarify the manual tests.

Once the results of all the researches had been studied, large-scale colourmatching was carried out to accord with the exposed test areas. When a proper balance had been achieved the full restoration was carried out in the original manner by a local craftsman, Mr. Robert Howie of Mauchline.

At the same time, the ceiling paintings were consolidated, cleaned and restored, and as each room was rehabilitated so the pictures were restored at the Stenhouse Conservation Centre.

By far the most difficult interior restoration was the oval staircase. It had been decorated as late as 1968 - each floor being a different colour. The Victoria & Albert Museum had expressed the view that it should be tackled first, but on acount of the recent redecoration it was decided to leave it until last which, in fact, made good sense since this was the last part of the castle to be built. Having had the experience of restoring the rest of the house first, an intimate knowledge had been gained and it was thus easier to interpret the evidence on even a large area. Even so, with the centre of the stairwell filled with scaffolding it was no easy task to 'read' the test areas from top to bottom.

Now that the interior is completed, a high standard of conservation has to be maintained: Culzean is, after all, the 'flagship' of the National Trust for Scotland. The intention is eventually to restore the old kitchen and thus achieve some sort of balance between upstairs and downstairs.

In 1945 what were then considered essential furnishings were acquired by the Trust, and the remaining items were left on loan. When the family moved out in the 1960s to Cassillis, their other seat, near Maybole, most of the latter were removed.

Over the years, items of furniture and pictures have been accepted by Her Majesty's Treasury, in lieu of estate duties, for display at Culzean. In addition, generous benefactors have either given or lent furniture and decorative items. To them, as well as to the family, the Trust owes a considerable debt of gratitude.