400-Year-Old Manor House Re-Opens After Restoration

A historic hall in Lancashire, which is renowned for its beautiful Jacobean plasterwork ceilings, has undergone a two-year restoration programme. The Lancashire Post reports that Astley Hall in Chorley has now reopened to visitors, after a £1.1m renovation scheme. A special weekend of celebrations was held in late May to mark the occasion.

The Grade I listed house was built over 400 years ago, and is celebrated for its stunning mid 17th century plaster ceilings, which are considered to be some of the finest in the country.

The exterior has undergone a transformation, with the removal of grey rendering to reveal the brickwork underneath. The exposed brickwork was then steam cleaned, and some of the oak window frames have been replaced with respoke replicas. The doors and the main staircase have been enhanced to cope with the visitor traffic.

Gary Hall, chief executive of Chorley Council told Lancs Live: “We are so excited to be able to reopen the doors of Astley Hall and for everyone to see the work that has been going on there over the last two years, which has included an enormous amount of restoration work to preserve the Hall and changes to enhance the visitor experience.”

“It will be a real weekend of celebration - not only showcasing the Hall both inside and out, but there’ll be entertainment and activities for everyone to enjoy.”

Mr Hall added: “The work to the hall over the last couple of years has been fascinating and a journey through history in itself. It was vital that we carried out the work to preserve this outstanding building which is part of Chorley’s history for future generations and to provide a visitor attraction for people in the region to enjoy.”

The four wings of the house still have most of the original features intact, including rare decorative panelling, and fine oak wood furniture.

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Grade II* Listed Cinema Opens After Restoration Project

The historic Electric Palace cinema in Harwich, Essex, has reopened after an extensive restoration programme. The Braintree and Witham Times reports that the two-year renovation project included the repair of the ornate plaster ceiling. It was first opened in 1911, and is one of the oldest purpose-built cinemas in the UK.

The beautifully designed building still retains many of its original features, including the decorative front entrance, ceilings, and screen. However, it was placed on the Heritage at Risk register by Historic England, after an initial refurbishment project revealed that there were dangerous levels of asbestos in the roof cavity.

Fortunately, Historic England stepped in with a grant to fund the removal work, and The National Lottery Heritage Fund stepped in with an extra £1.5m funding to support the further restoration. The structural defects and a water leak have been repaired, the interior has been redecorated, and the auditorium flooring and seating refurbished.

David Looser, Chair of the Harwich Electric Palace Trust said: “We are delighted to announce that the long running repair and restoration project is now complete, and that we are reopening.”

He added: “We would like to thank our funding partners for their support, particularly Historic England, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and everyone who has contributed to our crowdfunding campaign, without which this vital community asset and heritage site would have been facing an extremely uncertain future.”

The cinema still retains the original projection room and silent screen, and a gas-powered generator is situated in the basement. It was designed by the architect Harold Hooper when he was just 25 years old. The proprietor of the Electric Palace was Charles Thurston, a celebrated showman who pioneered the fairground cinemas of the early twentieth century.

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Wanstead Grotto Restoration Gets Royal Seal Of Approval

Of all the listed building restoration projects in London, few have been as long in the making as that of Wanstead Grotto, which has been undergoing urgent and vital work.

The Grade II listed structure, which gained its listing as long ago as 1954, stands in Wanstead Park in Redbridge. It was originally built in the 18th century as an entertainment venue by the park’s lake, but was largely destroyed by fire in 1884.

Since then it has stood as a ruin, albeit an impressive one with multiple arches. Before the fire it was decorated with shells, crystals and mirrors, plus a pebble floor.

However, as the Ilford Recorder reports, the building has been increasingly unstable in recent years, with Historic England placing it on its Heritage at Risk Register and a partnership of the Heritage of London Trust and the City of London Corporation teaming up to find urgent stabilising works. Planning permission for the work was granted by Redbridge Council last year.

This work was inspected by HRH Duke of Gloucester, who is the ranger of Epping Forest and patron of the Heritage of London Trust, as well as being a former architect.

Dr Nicola Stacy, the director of the trust, said it had been “wonderful” to show the duke the progress that has been made on the project so far.

She added: "It’s one of east London’s hidden gems and so important that it is restored for the public and the local community to enjoy again.”

The trust has completed numerous restoration projects across the capital and has many more ongoing works taking place.

Among these are the restoration of the public clock at the elaborately corniced Boston Arms pub in Tufnell Park, repairs to the brickwork and masonry of the front porch of the Bush Theatre in White City and the restoration of the Rose Window of Winchester Palace in Southwark.

Restoring Period Features ‘Great Way To Add Value’

Homeowners who are looking for ways to boost the value of their residence should consider restoring its original features, as property experts have stated this will be a worthwhile return on investment.

The Express reported the latest from the Property Workshop, revealing some of the simple, but effective, tricks to boost a home’s appeal to potential buyers, as well as its price.

They said: “Bringing floorboards back to life in an older period property is a great way to add value without spending a fortune.”

According to the experts, natural stone, such as limestone, is particularly important to keep well-maintained, as it “is the only type of flooring that gets better as it ages”.

Therefore, those lucky enough to have this type of beautiful flooring in their properties should look after it well, as it can “last a lifetime”, while it also “adds a pinch of character”.

Homeowners with original wooden floors, such as in Victorian and Edwardian properties, should also consider sanding and re-staining their floorboards, as these remain very popular among homebuyers.

The property experts noted that giving floorboards a new lease of life will attract buyers, saying: “Even if your floor hasn’t worn out, it may be outdated in style.”

Houses built in these periods, between 1837 and 1910, have other beautiful features that are incredibly popular to homebuyers looking for old-fashioned homes, including cornices, ceiling roses and dado rails.

Therefore, it is worthwhile considering cornice restoration in London to enhance the original features of your home and be able to demand a higher price from buyers.

Ceiling of Liverpool’s St George’s Hall Undergoes Restoration

A historic restoration project is set to begin on the beautiful ceiling of Liverpool’s St George’s Hall. Museums and Heritage Advisor reports that for the first time in over 70 years, the ornate ceiling will be inspected and restored. A team of experts will assess the condition of the plasterwork, remove flaking paint, and carry out necessary repair work.

The interior barrel-vaulted ceiling is at a height of 82ft, and measures 72ft in width. The restoration scheme is expected to take around two months, and cost £250,000. The funding is provided by Liverpool City Council.

Cabinet Member for Culture and Visitor Economy, Councillor Harry Doyle commented: “With any building of this age, it’s inevitable areas are going to need a facelift or renovation work, and it’s imperative we take action as soon as possible to remedy the issues and ensure the Hall is in impeccable condition.”

Head of Heritage, Development and Preservation, Alan Smith, said: “I’ve spent a huge amount of time over the past decade transforming St George’s Hall into a major event space and wedding venue – and quite simply, people come to the venue because of how it looks.”

He added: “I’m biased, but there really isn’t anything out there that compares to what we have on offer, and as a result we can’t ignore it when restoration work needs to take place.”

The BBC reports that the Grade I listed building was opened in 1854, and is now a key cultural venue for Liverpool. It has also been featured in several TV shows and films over the years, most recently in the latest Batman film as Gotham City Hall. Previously, episodes of Peaky Blinders and scenes from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them have filmed there.

If you would like some information about lath & plaster, please talk to us today.

Plans To Turn Grade I Listed Castle Into Hotel Criticised By Local Council

A controversial plan to convert an 18th Century castle on the Isle of Wight into a five-star luxury hotel has faced considerable opposition, with claims that the development would harm the potential chance of an extensive listed building restoration.

Norris Castle, a Grade I listed castle on the Isle of Wight, has been owned by the Norris Castle Estate Group (NCEG) since 2016, with the intention of renovating the castle, abandoned since the death of previous owner Major Digby Coventry in 2014 into a luxury hotel.

The planning applications would convert the castle into 120 homes and a 74 room hotel, the former to be offered to local residents first before being sold on the open market, and the total cost of the conversion has been estimated to total over £107m, over £16m in repairs alone.

Amongst the many proposals are plans to convert farmhouse buildings into a spa and wellness centre, building dozens of luxury suites on the grounds itself to avoid the risk of landslip, as well as building 120 homes on Springhill Estate to mitigate the cost of the entire project.

Nearly every aspect of the proposal has been criticised, with detailed objections provided by the local East Cowes Town Council, who unanimously voted in opposition to the scheme and published a 12-page objection outlining their reasons why.

Their primary objections include, but are far from limited to the harm it would cause to Grade I and II listed buildings and structures, concerns about traffic in the area, issues with over-development, and objects to claims by NCEG that the development is necessary given the state of the building.

Other comments strongly criticised the proposals as creating a “millionaires’ playground” that had been justified by the Group as being necessary to minimise the number of new properties to be constructed and the overall harm to the estate.

The Isle of Wight council, the Local Planning Authority for the castle, is expected to make a decision in May 2022.

Historic Chapel Restoration Project Awarded £36k

A restoration project on a historic chapel in Kent has been awarded a grant of £36,000. The former 15th-century chapel is no longer in use and had been converted into a house early in its history, but has long been unoccupied and now in urgent need of repair.

BBC News reports that St Andrews Chapel in Boxley, Kent, is on the Heritage at Risk Register and was bought by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) in 2018. The former chapel once formed part of Boxley Abbey, and have been unoccupied since 1970.

The Grade II-listed chapel, which has been constructed using Kentish ragstone, has had many varied uses throughout its history, once being home to Tudor poet Thomas Wyatt, and was the Boxley village post office between the 1930s and 1960s.

The grant, awarded by Historic England, will help fund the design of an engineering solution to reinforce the west corner of the chapel, as well; as investigations into the causes of structural movement, which the building has experienced over the last 500 years.

Marion Brinton, from Historic England, said the organisation was ‘delighted’ to support the SPAB with the sensitive repair of the historic building.

“The many layers of history are evident in every room and by properly investigating the best way to support and repair the structural issues identified, we can ensure the correct solution is found to allow this building to live on,” he said.

If you’re looking for experts in listed building restoration, talk to us today.

When To Repair Plaster

There are many reasons plaster is a popular building material. It is easy to produce, malleable and suited to being used both indoors and out. But its durability is also crucial.

All this has helped influence is widespread use in London, not least because it is a key element of the Regency architecture seen in central and west London, with a few more isolated examples in Croydon.

As these buildings date back centuries, one may ask just how often that plaster has needed repairing. The answer will, of course, vary: anything from house fires to the Luftwaffe could account for damage to plasterwork in London down the years.

Nonetheless, over time plaster does suffer wear and tear, whether inside or out, just like any other material. While it should last indefinitely, it can crack, be stained, flake or be damaged by machinery or accidental damage.

Two key factors determine how long plaster lasts. Firstly, the quality of work and the kind of plaster used is critical. The second is the environment it will be exposed to. Outdoors, plaster will be subject to weathering, while inside it may be prone to human influences. For instance, staining is more likely if someone in the house smokes.

When it comes to repairs, it is important not to opt for cheap choices like plasterboard when repairing older, period piece plaster. It will be flat and stand out as a bland, dull patch amid a lot of delicately crafted and ornamental plaster, thus diminishing the aesthetic quality residents and visitors will have enjoyed and admired up to this point.

The other thing to bear in mind is that a high quality job will mean your plaster lasts longer, barring accidents. That means you will be able to enjoy the results of repaired cornices, coving and other features for many years to come without needing further work on it.