Restoring the Glory
Town Hall reborn
By 2013 a new vision was needed to secure the future of the Town Hall.
The new No. 1 Riverside building opened in 2013 and key council services were rationalised. The Town Hall was increasingly underused and a long-term plan was needed. The council began working towards a project that could be supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF).
Following extensive consultation, a new vision emerged. It aimed to give full access to the public for the first time. It would give visitors a full appreciation of the wonders of the building while making it fit for purpose for the twenty first century.
The project was developed in collaboration with a wide range of community groups and delivered with the help of many volunteers, work placements, and apprentices.
Underused and under threat
By the time the Town Hall closed, in 2020, it was in poor condition and could not be used to its full potential.
Piecemeal changes over many years meant it was a difficult building to manage and run. Level access was not possible everywhere and the layout made it inflexible.
The condition of the heating and electrical systems was very poor and required complete renewal. The roof and windows had been leaking for years, causing damage to the beautiful painted interiors. The wonderful exteriors and interiors were filthy, a combination of general dirt, nicotine, and inappropriate layers of varnish.
Funding, floors and fabric
In 2018 the council heard that they had been successful in securing a grant from NLHF to fund the restoration work needed.
Before work could start, the council had to close the building and remove all the furniture, equipment, and council documentation. After that, the high-risk demolition and removals works began. Mezzanine floors which had been added at a later date were removed as were the lift and the floors within the Clocktower. The whole interior of the building had to be protected as well, in advance of the restoration of the outer fabric.
Transformation!
With the high-risk work completed, the next stage of work could begin.
The next stage was to complete the NLHF restoration of the central and east wings of the building.
This included full restoration of the Great Hall and the formation of the new Bright Hall. Three new lifts were inserted into the original building and all electrical systems were replaced. The many different roofs were repaired and insulated and windows replaced. All painted surfaces were cleaned.
Outside, a new sub station was built with central government de-carbonisation funding. Roads were closed permanently to create a pedestrianised Town Hall Square. The west wing of the building is also being restored in phases and will be complete in 2024. The Broadfield Park slopes have been awarded further National Lottery Heritage funding and will be restored following a community archaeological dig.
An aerial view shows the scale of the work.