Working on historic buildings often means facing a combination of complex challenges: limited access, fragile environments and strict conservation requirements. At Craigmillar Castle in Scotland, a recent maintenance operation demonstrated how modern lifting technology can support heritage preservation while respecting the integrity of the site.
The project, carried out by Historic Environment Scotland, Industrial Access Systems ltd and Aurora Energy Services, required the positioning of specialised access equipment inside the castle walls to allow maintenance and inspection activities on the structure. Accessing the internal areas of the castle, however, was far from straightforward.
Located just outside Edinburgh, Craigmillar Castle is one of Scotland’s best-preserved medieval castles. Built in the 14th century and later expanded over several centuries, the fortress is characterised by thick stone walls, narrow entrances and enclosed courtyards designed for defence rather than modern construction logistics.
These architectural features make the site impressive from a historical perspective, but they also create serious limitations when machinery needs to enter the complex.
In this case, the main access point to the outer courtyard was a narrow stone arch-gate. While just wide enough for compact equipment to pass through, it prevented the use of conventional lifting machinery.
Once inside the courtyard, the situation became even more restrictive: no other large gateways allowed machines to reach the areas where lifting operations were required.
The task involved lifting and positioning a tracked MEWP (mobile elevating work platform) over sections of the castle walls. The equipment was needed to allow operators to safely access elevated parts of the structure for inspection and maintenance.
To complete this operation, the lifting machine had to meet several requirements:
After evaluating the available options, the team selected the Jekko JF545.2 articulated crawler crane.
The JF545.2 combines the lifting power of a larger crane with the compact dimensions required for restricted environments.
Its crawler tracks allow stable movement across uneven or sensitive surfaces, while the articulated boom configuration provides excellent reach and positioning flexibility. The crane can also be quickly repositioned around the jobsite, an important advantage when working within enclosed areas such as courtyards or historical compounds.
In this case, the machine was able to pass through the narrow entrance gate and reach the internal yard of the castle, something that would have been impossible for most conventional cranes.
From there, the JF545.2 performed the lifting operations required to place the tracked MEWP over the castle walls.
Working on a historic monument also means protecting what lies beneath the surface. The team had to take into account the archaeological sensitivity of the ground, which required additional precautions during the operation.
As Grant Black, HLM Programme Manager at Historic Environment Scotland, explains:
“It was brought in as it was the only crane that would do the lift and fit through the front gate, which was very tight for the crane to get through. So from an access point of view it was great for that.
The other condition we had to consider was the fact we had to account for archaeological matters under the ground, so the ground matting was laid to protect the ground.”
Ground protection matting was therefore installed before the crane entered the working area, ensuring that the lifting operations could be carried out without damaging the historic site.
Another key advantage of the JF545.2 was its mobility once inside the courtyard. After completing the first lift, the crane was quickly repositioned to another area of the yard to place a second MEWP in a different location.
This ability to move efficiently across the worksite helped minimise disruption and allowed the maintenance team to carry out operations safely and efficiently within the limited space available.
Projects like this demonstrate how compact lifting solutions such as articulated crawler cranes can play a crucial role in heritage conservation.
By combining compact dimensions, strong lifting capacity and precise manoeuvrability, machines like the Jekko JF545.2 allow operators to access areas that would otherwise be impossible to reach with traditional cranes.
At Craigmillar Castle, this capability made it possible to carry out essential maintenance work while respecting both the architecture of the historic structure and the archaeological value of the site.
It is a clear example of how modern engineering can support the preservation of historic landmarks, ensuring that these remarkable places can continue to be maintained and protected for future generations.
