Bodiam Castle works

After its roofing was removed during the English Civil War, probably by Oliver Cromwell's troops, the castle interior has been exposed to the elements for more than 350 years.

Wind and rain have taken their toll on the stonework, particularly on the fine masonry of the grander parts this spectacular residence - the Great Hall, the Chapel and the Lord's apartments, where one of the grand chimneys has been in danger of collapsing.

The National Trust, which owns Bodiam Castle, has brought in the stonemasons again, just as Sir Edward Dalyngrigge did in 1385 when he had the castle built. Some of their tools are different, but the craft remains remarkably unchanged over the centuries.

The new windows are being cut out of a very similar sandstone to the one the originals were made from.

The main difference is that the scaffolding used is now steel rather than wood, and the payment system is not quite the same. 600 years age the masons made their own special mark on each stone they cut and dressed, so that it could be identified as theirs and they would be paid accordingly. Today's masons just send in a bill!

This is just the beginning of a five year project to conserve the stonework of this romantic ruin, one of the finest examples of its type in Europe.

Bodiam Castle is open at weekends during the winter and every day during Spring and Summe