A BUILDING surveyor looked high and low to solve a ceiling restoration mystery in a listed building.

Mr David Lee was forced to turn detective when he was unable to find the blueprint to an ornate ceiling in a County Durham school.

In a bid to match the colours of new plaster work with original 19th century craftsmanship, the county council surveyor had to track down several experts, ranging from heritage paint specialists to heraldic consultants.

It was a task which took him from Durham Cathedral to the College of Arms in London.

Four years ago, the two ceilings at Windlestone Hall school, in Rushyford, had become badly water damaged, making them unsafe.

Scaffolding helped to support them until eventually last June the delicate job of restoration began when decorative plaster specialists Hodkin and Jones of Sheffield arrived.

The building, which dates back to 1835, was the home of the Eden family, of which former Prime Minister Anthony Eden was a member, a fact celebrated in the intricate plasterwork in the form of the Eden family coat of arms, together with a shield to commemorate a marriage.

But following a county council repaint in the 1960s using only primary colours, nobody was clear how the original ceiling or heraldic decoration would have looked.

Mr Lee said: "The building was not listed when it was repainted and we were keen to restore it to its original condition.

"Specialists investigating the original colour scheme found that pastel shades, including pale lemons, pinks and greens, would have been used, so we set about finding the perfect match."

But the shield and the coats of arms proved more difficult.

"Durham Cathedral staff showed me six volumes of heraldic shields but none matched the Eden crest," said Mr Lee.

"From there I visited a church in St Helen's Auckland which had on show part of the Eden crest but not all.

"The vicar suggested I contacted Lord Eden in London to ask him. When I did, he filled in the missing coat of arms details but was unsure about the marriage shield."

Lord Eden pointed him in the direction of the College of Arms in London, where a painstaking investigation finally revealed the original shield colours.

"It was a real piece of detective work but we got there in the end," added Mr Lee.

The work, which cost £63,000, was completed just before Christmas but, as with all old buildings, repair work is ongoing.

The main staircase is currently supported by scaffolding while metal struts encased in oak are made to strengthen the framework.

Head teacher Mr Pete Johnson, said: "We are absolutely delighted with the work and the pupils love it."

In 1958, the hall was turned into a school and is now used for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.