AN HISTORIC Troutbeck farmhouse is set to reopen today after undergoing major repair works.

Townend, a National Trust property, has had £150,000 spent on it and has been closed for the past nine months.

It was discovered last November that the 16th century Grade 1 listed building had wet rot and would need timbers removed and replaced.

At a special open day on Monday (July 25), Jeremy Barlow, The National Trust's general manager for the Central and East Lakes said that it was an example of a 'really well managed project'.

“Replacing damaged sections of 400-year old solid oak beams has been no easy task I want to say a huge thank you to everyone that’s been involved in the project so far," he said. "We’re now looking forward to visitors being able to enjoy Townend again this summer."

The rot was discovered during a routine inspection of the external lime render. On removing the render it was clear that two of the beams in the front façade of the main reception room were crumbling due to wet rot.

Over the last few months, Townend has been cloaked in scaffolding and held up by a metal support structure while builders gradually peeled away layers of render to reveal stonework probably last seen in mid-Victorian times.

The support structure has now been removed and the scaffolding will be taken down gradually over the next few weeks.