Raglan Castle Window Arch Stabilisation

Raglan Castle is a late medieval castle located just north of the village of Raglan in the county of Monmouthshire in south east Wales. The modern castle dates from between the 15th and early 17th centuries.

Highlife Rope Access have a specialist Diamond Drilling divison purely set up to be able to drill in challenging locations - castles, viaducts, aqueducts etc. They were called in to stabilise the window arches in the Great Tower and reconsolidate the wall faces after it was noticed that some natural errosion was taking place.

Drilling undertaken:

SDS 12mm Drill Bits to drill 600mm depth and fit 10mm Stainless Bar

56mm JKS Mining Barrel at 2000mm depth to fit 16mm Stainless Bar using a Cintec Anchor System

Ideology:

The idea was the smaller bars created a type of shelf amongst the voussoirs (a wedge-shaped or tapered stone used to construct an arch) in the arch and then the 2 meter anchors tie the whole lot back to the earth lime mortar filled core of the main wall.

Highlife Rope Access used a series of rope supported platforms to reach the required areas to be drilled. Using a JKS Weka DK32 motor, JKS Profi Maxi Drill Rig and JKS 56mm mining barrel.

The project was completed on time, on budget and Raglan Castle Window Arches are now safe for many years to come.