Ultrascape Flowpoint makes its debut at Caernarfon Castle, just like Charles did at his investiture in 1969!
Beautiful Caernarfon Castle, one of the top tourist attractions in Wales is known as one of the most impressive castles in the United Kingdom. The castle itself is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its small town of Caernarfon, famed for its fishing, nestled within the castle’s huge stone walls. Caernarfon Castle is imposingly positioned at the front of the town, protecting its citizens within. Caernarfon Castle is more commonly known for the investiture of the Prince of Wales in 1911 and famously again for Charles in 1969.
In 2018 a £4million scheme was announced to safeguard the castle and it’s grounds, not wanting the historic castle to fall into disrepair, Gwynedd Council proposed the scheme to carefully and sympathetically restore the castle. One major area of concern was that there was no actual kerb or clear footpath around the castle, making the area difficult to access for many of its visitors.
Commenting on the investment of Caernarfon Castle in 2018, Culture Minister Lord Elis-Thomas said the aim was to boost visitor numbers to the castle and Caernarfon by…“Enhancing this world class offer.” He said “our sites need to be more accessible, relevant and enjoyable.”
Following the announcement of the investment, Gwynedd Council, along with their partner YGC – Ymgynghoriaeth Gwynedd Consultancy, put out a tender for the path & kerb work to the castle, the subsequent tender to install the footpath around the perimeter of the Castle was awarded to Tom James Construction Services Ltd.
Tom James Construction Services Ltd, a groundworks and construction company based in the small rural town of Blaenau Ffestiniog, situated right in the heart of Snowdonia was established in 2013. Tom is proud to have worked in the construction industry since the age of 16, honing his skills, following in his late father Richard Thomas James’ footsteps.
Tom James Construction is a small family owned & run business, Tom says it is incredibly important to them to employ people from the local area and give them the training, support and confidence to develop their skills in the construction industry. Tom and his co-director Tesni are proud of their tight knit team – on site at Caernarfon Castle with them are Bryn James, their Site Supervisor, Adam Cotton and Cai Davies, groundworkers. Tom Hughes Groundworks also provided labour work.
Tom and his team started work on the perimeter path at Caernarfon Castle at the beginning of January 2021, the works are due to be completed by April 2021. The materials selected for the path were carefully chosen to complement the restoration to the castle and surrounding grounds. Marshalls Perfecta Natural Square Edge flags and UltraScape Flowpoint Grout in Natural Grey were chosen.
Perfecta flags were selected due to their blend of hard Yorkstone aggregate, which provides the look of natural yorkstone, as well as durability and both wet and dry non-slip qualities, important for a site that has visitors of all ages, with varying degrees of mobility. Perfecta paving also has the warm, rich colour and character of natural Yorkstone, which compliments the beauty of the castle’s stone walls.
Perfecta flags were selected due to their blend of hard Yorkstone aggregate, which provides the look of natural yorkstone, as well as durability and both wet and dry non-slip qualities, important for a site that has visitors of all ages, with varying degrees of mobility. Perfecta paving also has the warm, rich colour and character of natural Yorkstone, which compliments the beauty of the castle’s stone walls.
To compliment the colours in the Perfecta Paving, Flowpoint Grout was selected to fill the joints between the paving flags. Ultrascape Flowpoint is used by major contractors on huge streetscape projects because it not only meets the British Standard BS7533, it is also super easy to apply due to its pourable slurry application. Flowpoint has rapid set properties and can offer a construction life of up to 40yrs, important when you consider Caernarfon Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with thousands of visitors each year!
The Ultrascape Flowpoint Grout was supplied by online merchant ‘The Paving Experts’, another family run business that provides landscaping, construction & building materials to landscaping contractors nationally like Tom James Construction Services Ltd. Tom, Managing Director commented;
“We used Flowpoint as it’s easy to use, dries quickly, closes the joints in the slabs better, and also provides a great overall finish!”
Tom said of his experience with The Paving Experts;
“We received the product in a timely manner and had clear communication from the company.”
At Caernarfon Castle the project to complete the new path & kerbs is now nearing completion, Dylan Rhys Parry, Principal Engineer on the project said of the work Tom James Construction Services Ltd are completing;
“As the NEC Project Manager on this scheme on behalf of the Client, Gwynedd Council, I am very pleased with Tom James Construction’s professional and pragmatic approach to this challenging project.
Working alongside an UNESCO World Heritage Site and Scheduled Ancient Monument, namely Caernarfon Castle, is in itself a challenge that the Contractor has overcome with a positive and flexible approach to the works. Tom James Construction has provided, whilst adhering to the current restrictions as a result of COVID, a quality product which is set to be completed to budget and to programme and is to provide the residents and visitors of Caernarfon with a safe and aesthetically pleasing product that will also improve the overall setting of the Castle.”
The important conservation work being carried out at the castle and its surrounding grounds, including the surrounding pathway installed by Tom and his team using Ultrascape Flowpoint Grout will help to protect the medieval castle for generations to enjoy for years to come!
For further information on Ultrascape Flowpoint Grout, please contact The Paving Experts on 0330 122 1025, or email orders@thepavingexperts.co.uk or visit our product page.
All information within this blog has been provided by the contractor, Tom James Construction Services Ltd. To contact Tom and his team, visit: www.tjconstructionltd.cymru
