An historic Stirling landmark which has been closed to the public for almost five years is to remain shut for the foreseeable future.
A-listed Argyll’s Lodging in the Top of the Town has been shut since September 2017 for renovation.
Historic Environment Scotland, which looks after the property, told the Observer in March 2018 that it was carrying out conservation work within the roofspace. For a time that year the building was partly shrouded in scaffolding.
Repairs were also carried out on areas of plaster throughout the building and it was expected the attraction would re-open in summer 2018.
When that didn’t happen HES said it was “on track to open at the start of the [2019] season.”
But the timetable slipped back again in 2019 and HES said that various structural issues had been discovered while the initial repairs at Argyll’s Lodging were being carried out, adding: “We are currently waiting for the structural engineers report to determine what remedial action is required, after which we will have a clearer idea of the timescale for this work.”
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An HES spokesperson said this week: “Our works teams have been conducting structural repairs at the site and are carrying out additional work looking at the fabric of the building.
“At the moment we don’t have a definitive timetable for reopening, but will update in due course via our social media channels.”
Tourists have in the past combined their visits to Stirling Castle with a tour of the Renaissance-style former residence in Castle Wynd of the Earl of Stirling and later the Earls of Argyll.
The history of the house goes back to the mid-1500s when a two-storey dwelling, with a hall on the first floor and a kitchen below, was built for John Traill, a wealthy burgess. This was soon extended to form an L-shaped tower house.
In 1629, the house passed to Sir William Alexander, 1st Earl of Stirling and later Lord Stirling. Expecting a visit by King Charles I, he created a private palace, with fine suites of public and private rooms and a lavish exterior.
The property was used as a military hospital and youth hostel before Historic Scotland took it over as a museum in 1996.
