JR Scaffold has delivered a complex free-standing scaffold to support the full restoration of the Sir Walter Scott statue in George Square, as part of the city’s multi-million-pound refurbishment programme.
Invited to tender for the specialist works, JR Scaffold was also awarded scaffolding packages for the Queen Victoria, Robert Burns and Prince Albert monuments earlier this year. The awards underline the contractor’s growing track record on high-profile heritage schemes.
The scaffold provides full access for conservation works, including cleaning and the careful removal, repair and reinstatement of damaged stone. Individual stone sections weigh up to 500kg, requiring bespoke lifting points to ensure safe and accurate handling throughout the programme.
Built using a Cuplok system, the structure rises to around 25 metres and is designed to carry significant loads. Concrete precast blocks at the base provide additional stability.
A key constraint was that no ties could be fixed into the historic fabric. As a result, the scaffold was designed to be entirely free-standing. JR Scaffold worked closely with Gallery Access Solutions, with detailed engineering drawings guiding the erection.
The scaffold was built precisely to design, with engineers inspecting and signing off each stage. A five-person team completed the erection within four weeks.
The project marks JR Scaffold’s first job with this client and demonstrates its ability to deliver safe, accurate access solutions on sensitive landmark sites.
John Jack, Contracts Director at JR Scaffold, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the completed structure we have built around the statue. It’s great to say JR Scaffold has played a small part in such a historic project. Being trusted to support the restoration of an iconic monument like Sir Walter Scott’s statue is something we are incredibly proud of.”
