Last weekend we had the great pleasure of giving the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland (AHSS) a tour of recent works at Hawthornden Castle, the famous Literary Retreat.

Hawthornden is believed to be the first castle in Scotland to be fully protected by a low-pressure water mist system — a quietly significant achievement, with the misting heads barely noticeable in the ceilings.  This allowed us to meet stringent fire safety standards whilst making minimal intervention to the existing historic fabric.  At the same time and to the same standards, works were done to make the Castle and the estate Net Zero, exporting surplus energy to the grid.

Hawthornden Castle, North Elevation ©Colin McLean Photography