Around 200 people armed with water pistols turned out to test a protective covering installed around a popular Charles Rennie Mackintosh attraction. Around 200 people armed with water pistols turned out to test a protective covering installed around a popular Charles Rennie Mackintosh attraction. This summer the National Trust for Scotland erected a chainmail mesh around the Hill House in Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute, to stop it dissolving “like a sugar cube”. The property in Helensburgh is considered Mackintosh’s domestic masterpiece (Andrew Milligan/PA)The property is considered the architect’s domestic masterpiece, but due to its experimental design and materials it has been soaking up water “like a sponge” for more than 115 years. On Saturday, members of the public were invited to bring water pistols and “Douse the House” to test whether the 32.4 million chainmail rings were doing their job.

Source: Irish Independent September 28, 2019 20:15 UTC