Heritage workers resume work on £5m roof repairs at stately home

THE COVID-19 pandemic brought £5m of vital roof repairs to a halt at Wentworth Woodhouse, one of England’s finest stately homes.

But after this month’s government guidance for the construction sector, the project is under way again with a host of new safety measures to protect the heritage stonemasons, joiners and roofers back on site.

Once home to the Fitzwilliam family, the stately home in Rotherham is benefiting from a £5m phase of work that will see the Woodhead Group deliver major restoration and replacement of the building’s roof.

Strict precautions to ensure social distancing rules are met include outdoor meetings, staggered break times and careful collaboration/planning of working area between trades.

Additional scaffold walkways have been created to give workers a one-way system around the vast site.

Sarah McLeod, chief executive of Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust, said: “Sadly our great house and visitor attractions must remain closed to the public until the Government’s Covid-19 policy changes.

“But we are delighted that vital repairs to our roof are now running again. Huge efforts are being made by Woodhead Group, our construction team, to keep heritage craftsmen safe as they push to get our Capital Works Programme back on track.

“By the end of the year we hope to see the magnificent East Front of Wentworth Woodhouse uncloaked from the scaffold

Sarah McLeod, chief executive of Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust.

which has shrouded it from view for over a year.”

Earlier this month, the owners of Wentworth Woodhouse appealed to their supporters to enter a lockdown art competition that will help preserve the mansion for the future.

The trust faces a major drop in income after being forced to close the property to visitors in March and cancel their summer events programme, as well as lucrative wedding bookings.

As part of the contest, which closed to entries last week, regular visitors were encouraged to enter with the chance for their winning design to be featured on a fundraising T-shirt.

We are delighted that vital repairs to our roof are running again.

PICTURES: SIMON HULME. BACK IN BUSINESS: Construction work has re-started on roof repairs at Wentworth Woodhouse, Rotherham, main. Above left, urns that have been removed from the roof and, above right, quantity surveyor Amy Stamford assesses the work from scaffolding .