There has been a forest of scaffolding in the Great Hall at Balintore Castle for the longest time, as we have been rebuilding the ceiling, the high walls, installing windows, plastering and painting. The scaffolding had three floors, which gives you some indication of the height of the room.
Anyhow, a fornight ago the scaffolding came down and for the first time we saw properly what the restored room looks like. The beautifully designed Victorian interior is back and the reveal lifted all the crew's hearts.
The hall has grown thanksfully. For some reason it shrank during the restoration process, but assuredly all living rooms would shrink when crammed with scaffolding. The recent agrandisement is not universally received: Gregor thinks the room has shrunk yet again. :-)
There was a single corner of the room which had not been scaffolded originally, so a smaller scaffold tower was constructed to enable access. You can see the three levels here.
The room also became much brighter, with the light-occluding scaffolding boards removed, and I don't think I would hestiate to say it is actually a very light room - the very reverse of the common conception of a dark Victorian parlour.
There is still lots of finishing woodwork to be added e.g. skirting boards, door architraves and oak-flooring. We are all tremulous with impatience for the completion of the room.
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