Issue 38 Summer web 23 - Flipbook - Page 38
hall is a very significant site with possible medieval
archaeology. In March 2023 we heard that our new NLHF
application for the restoration of the Slopes had been
successful at Round 1. The team are currently working on
developing a NLHF Round 2 bid and will be running a
community archaeological programme over the summer.
Full MEP replacement has been required. The MEP
installation is challenging in that the brief was to remove
all surface mounted wiring and pipework and to conceal
all the new systems. This has involved extremely delicate
work to run services behind historic interiors.
In some areas we are not only cleaning and repairing the
stained glass but are adding a new protective glass leaf
externally, fabricated with lead detailing to follow the
design of the internal leaf. This new leaf protects the
painted surface of the stained glass from further deterioration and is regarded as the very best method of giving
stained glass a long-term future. In time it is hoped that
all the major stained glass windows will be protected in
this way through an ongoing maintenance programme.
Externally there is a significant re-roofing programme,
including lead guttering and insulation and external stone
cleaning. Most of the non-stained glass windows are being
replaced with stainless steel units.
Most of the internal restoration work consists of removing
modern interventions including sub-division of
rooms, mezzanines and suspended ceilings. The project is
providing equity of access throughout through 3 new lift
cores and a new external terrace at the east and west
wings allowing level access to the building from all sides.
To help give the building the future it deserves we have
established a new heritage skills conservation studio in
the basement of the town hall which will house a workshop to support a new in-house specialist maintenance
team. We are recruiting a painted surfaces, a stained glass
and a timber specialist to permanent council positions as
well as a dedicated heritage building manager. Their role
will be to be custodians of the build fabric of the town hall,
planning and implementing a programme of care and
maintenance, ensuring that the town hall will remain in
great condition and will be cared for by people that
understand it and are trained to undertake the necessary
The team had not grasped how absolutely filthy the
building had become. Cleaning decades of nicotine and
inappropriate varnish from the internal surfaces will take
years to complete and sadly in some areas poorly applied
varnish has ruined the delicate painted surfaces. In many
areas it was impossible to fully understand the decorative
schema until up to 7 layers of varnish and overpainting
had been carefully removed.
Below, restoration of the angels in the Great Hall reveals
beautiful colours and detailing
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