Issue 38 Summer web 23 - Flipbook - Page 45
Rochdale Town Hall Repair and Restoration of
The Great Hall Ceiling
Rochdale Town Hall is a Grade I listed building of
exceptional interest, its dramatic Gothic exterior and
jewel-like interior are harmonious and together they
exemplify the apex of High Victorian design. The Town
Hall was designed by William Crossland, a prominent
Victorian architect, and is of the highest significance in
terms of its historic value as one of the finest examples of
a Victorian town hall nationally. As well as being an outstanding example of the Gothic Revival, it also includes
early examples of Aesthetic Movement design, then a
very new movement in art. Donald Insall Associates
were commissioned as lead architects for the project to
undertake the careful repair and restoration of the
building fabric and implement sensitive alterations to
improve both physical and intellectual accessibility for all.
exposing the rear of the plaster panels for inspection. A
detailed examination of each bay identified a combination
of issues including cohesive failure, material fatigue and
mechanical stress effecting the structural stability of the
plaster. The plaster nibs were degraded, extremely
powdery and, in many areas, lost. The underlying plaster
was also powdery and weak although the underside
supporting the painted surface remained sound. This led
to serious concerns regarding the stability of the ceiling
plaster, which was not expected given the sound
conditions to the underside.
The specialist conservators first carried out plaster
analysis, which showed a quite firm but easily crushed,
fine - medium grained weakly hydraulic mortar with a mix
ratio by volume of 3.3:1 aggregate: binder with a reduced
silica content to the failed nibs. Following extensive trials,
recommendations were made that deep consolidation of
The Great Hall [Fig 1] is arguably the most important
room in the Town Hall. The rich internal decoration
scheme comprises walls made up of painted stencil work
with Henry Holiday’s mural of 1870 depicting King
John signing the Magna Carta to the east gable and the
much-admired Binns organ to the west. The stained glass
is by Bayne of Heaton Butler and Bayne and includes two
rose windows to the gables. 16 timber hammer beams,
rich with painted decoration, form the main roof structure, which are supported between the wings of intricately
carved timber angels. 330 painted lath and plaster panels
form the ceiling between these beams. The repair and
restoration of this ceiling has proven to be one of the most
noteworthy challenges of the project. Hirst Conservation
were appointed at an early stage of the project as specialist
conservators to both carry out stabilisation works to the
panels and to clean and restore the internal painted
surfaces.
Stabilisation of the Ceiling Panels
From binocular inspections and limited touch tests carried
out from below at RIBA Stage 3 the ceiling panels
appeared to be relatively sound and, although the team
were aware that some stabilisation works would be
required, it was deemed that overall, the panels seemed
secure. Investigations from above at this point were
not possible as the few panels at eaves level that were
accessible had sadly been previously replaced with replica
plywood panels due to a dry rot outbreak in 1991.
Upon commencement of works on site a temporary roof
was erected over the Great Hall and scaffold staging
was assembled to enable the roof slates to be removed,
Above, figure one, the Great Hall
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Conservation & Heritage Journal
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