Rising from the ashes
WORK TO RESTORE FIRE-RAVAGED TUDOR HALL ENTERS FINAL STAGES
THE maze of steel scaffolding has gone and the iconic Tudor beams can be seen once again in all their glory.
Inside, structural repairs to smoke and fire-ravaged rooms have been completed. Interior painting has even started.
For the first time in a long time Wythenshawe Hall, one of the oldest buildings in Greater Manchester, is beginning to look back to its very best.
Three years ago, an arsonist high on drink and drugs set five fires within the Grade II-listed building, resulting in damage worth an estimated £5.2 million.
Our exclusive photographs on the third anniversary of the devastating blaze show just how far the repair work has come.
The front-facing scaffolding has been taken down to reveal the building’s beautiful frontage.
Project bosses have revealed the majority of the internal smoke and fire damage has been repaired and most recently, the building has been re-wired and plastered.
Work to polish the ornate floors is also expected to start soon.
Conlon Construction said its work was scheduled to complete in September, weather permitting, although the hall is not expected to fully reopen to the public until 2020.
Neil Conlon, from the firm, said: “The restoration is progressing well after recently completing all the structural repairs caused by the fire, and we will soon finish the re-slating and flat roof works, all being weather dependant.
“Inside the hall, we are nearing the final stages of restoring the damaged ornate ceiling in the Withdrawing Room and all internal joinery, mechanical and electrical work is 90 per cent complete.
“Internal decoration is part way through and we will soon begin repairing the timber panelling and sanding and polishing the floors, whilst our focus on the external rendering is due to commence as the weather improves. Currently, our work is scheduled to complete in September.
“We also understand and embrace the importance of delivering social value through our projects and are working closely with the council and local residents across all our Manchester-based schemes, not just at Wythenshawe Hall, to ensure we remain focused on delivering employment and skills training opportunities for local people, including apprenticeships.
“Wythenshawe Hall sits at the heart of the community and we have made lasting partnerships with the Friends of Wythenshawe Hall, Sandilands Primary School and Wythenshawe Games, as well as many more locally, by delivering multiple projects that create positive outcomes and leave a lasting legacy for the communities we serve.”
A major milestone was passed in September last year when the iconic bell tower was hoisted back into position.
The hall, dating back to 1540 and set in the 270-acre Wythenshawe Park, was gifted to the city of Manchester in 1926 by a philanthropist ‘to be used solely for the public good.’
Run by Manchester council it now houses a museum and art gallery. It’s staffed by volunteers and used to teach local schoolchildren about their history and heritage.
The arson attack was carried out by Jeremy Taylor, who was later jailed for four-and-a-half years.