THEY are among our greatest treasures, representing a cultural legacy stretching back thousands of years.
From brooding castles to magnificent stately homes, Scotland’s historic landmarks have long set it apart as a must-see destination.
But away from the prying eyes of tourists, a dedicated team works tirelessly to keep this valuable heritage looking its best.
Across the country, dozens of specialist cleaners apply their dusters and mops to priceless artefacts and structures requiring careful handling and precise attention to detail.
Their efforts might be little-heralded, but they allow millions of visitors from around the world – and those closer to home – to continue enjoying a fascinating glimpse into a rich and varied past.
Paul Johnston, site manager for outsourcing giant Mitie at Edinburgh Castle, has been helping take care of the landmark for 16 years.
He said: “Cleaning a historic monument is completely different to a standard area such as an office, requiring an incredibly high level of care and consideration for the structure of the building and artefacts inside.
“For example, the panelling in the rooms of Edinburgh Castle is very fragile, so extra care is needed to just lightly dust these types of surfaces – you need a constant appreciation for the history of what we are cleaning.
“The main challenge is the extra time and care needed when cleaning important objects.
“We use different products according to the material we are using – for example, we have a special stone wash to clean the stone flooring, which is over 100 years old.
"While the core skills needed are essentially the same, the key attribute needed is a lot of care and precision and being mindful of the importance of the site you are working in.
"Training in the deep cleaning of carpets and upholstery can be very useful, but we also ensure we always pass on our experience and training to other colleagues working on site."
Mr Johnston and his team at Edinburgh Castle are responsible for cleaning everything from the medieval Great Hall – festooned with gleaming weapons and polished armour – to the areas around the famous guns on the castle ramparts.
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But despite frequently venturing into the castle’s haunted cellars, he is adamant he has never had a brush with the supernatural.
“I have worked at the site for 16 years and have never felt scared in the cellars of Edinburgh Castle,” he said.
“I’ve heard the occasional squirrel or mouse making a rustle, but thankfully, I have never seen a ghost!”
Mr Johnston continued: “Given the heritage of the sites we are working at, each location we clean is unique in its own way – from the magnificent Great Hall, to a number of archive and artefact storage rooms, all the way to the cellars.
“We also take great pride in preparing the Great Hall at Edinburgh Castle for special events, which can range from state business to fashion shows and film premieres.
“Edinburgh Castle’s Exhibition Room requires great care, as there’s a number of brass and glass objects on display which require polishing.
“It’s also one of the most-visited rooms at the castle, with thousands of people walking through every day, so it needs the occasional deep clean after hours.”
This week, Mitie secured a five-year, £4.4 million contract to continue cleaning more than 50 historic buildings and ancient monuments in Historic Environment Scotland’s estate.
Its team of 55 staff use specialist skills to scrub key locations such as Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and Melrose Abbey.
This can take in everything from polishing a suit of armour to ensuring the upkeep of Iona Abbey, one of Scotland’s most sacred sites and the mausoleum of some of the early Scottish kings.
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The company, which has had a long-term contract with HES since 2010, will also be introducing an electric vehicle to Edinburgh Castle for the first time under the latest arrangement.
This will help it reduce its environmental impact and carbon emissions, while also allowing its team to easily navigate Auld Reekie’s cobbled streets.
Matthew Thompson, managing director of cleaning and environmental services at Mitie, said: “It’s a privilege to look after some of Scotland’s best-loved historic buildings and monuments through our strong partnership with HES.
“With a renewed focus on sustainability, we’re excited to introduce the first electric vehicle at Edinburgh to support the capital’s carbon emission pledge and we will continue to deliver improvements to keep Scotland’s beautiful heritage sites shining.”
Historic Environment Scotland maintains more than 300 properties around Scotland, from the 5,000-year-old Neolithic remains of Skara Brae on Orkney to the Gothic grandeur of Glasgow Cathedral.
Recent figures show the number of tourists visiting Scotland has soared to record levels, with 3.2 million overseas visitors in 2017.
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