A collaboration between two Cumbrian businesses at a historic north east attraction has received recognition from the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) in the federation’s annual awards.
The project was to roof the Round House building at Raby Castle, near Staindrop in County Durham the seat of Lord and Lady Barnard and the Vane family. The property is also home to a range of art, textiles and furniture from England and Europe dating from the 17th to the 20th Century.
KL Venning Slaters Ltd, based in Penrith, partnered with Burlington Stone to deliver the heritage roofing project which featured Burlington Blue Slate sourced from the Kirkby Moor Quarry. The project was shortlisted in the roof slating (heritage) category of the NFRC’s awards.
The event celebrated excellence in roofing design, innovation, and traditional skills, with the Raby Castle project standing out for its technical difficulty and meticulous execution. Judges praised the work for its attention to detail and fidelity to traditional slating techniques. The curved roof of the Round House demanded a highly skilled approach, using diminishing courses of random-width slate to create the seamless, conical shape essential to maintaining the historic building’s structural and visual integrity.
“We were proud to supply our Burlington Blue Cumbrian Slate for such an important heritage project,” Ian Ramsay, UK Sales Director at Burlington Stone, said. “The diminishing course roof structure is a hallmark of traditional Cumbrian roofing, and it’s vital that this vernacular style is preserved by expert craftspeople like Vennings.”
He added: “Their work on this project was outstanding, and we’re thrilled to see it recognised on a national platform.”
Despite not emerging as winners, Lisa and Mark Elliott, Directors of KL Venning Slaters said they were proud to fly the flag for Cumbria at such a prestigious event.
“While the overall winner in our category was a large school restoration in Cardiff, we were incredibly proud to be one of only four national finalists,” the couple said. ” It’s a fantastic achievement for our team and highlights both the skill of local tradespeople and the enduring quality of Cumbrian slate.”
The project’s success not only showcases the strength of Cumbrian partnerships in heritage conservation but also reinforces the region’s role in preserving the UK’s architectural legacy.
