Revamp of landmarks set to get under way
ARCHITECTS BROUGHT IN TO WORK ON FAMOUS BUILDINGS
ARCHITECTS have been appointed to oversee the three-year refurbishment of Huddersfield’s iconic George Hotel.
Work on the hotel and the former Ramsden Estate Building on nearby Railway Street is expected to be completed by 2024.
Architects Bowman Riley will carry out “all aspects of architectural work” required to bring the two buildings back to life, “taking care to preserve their heritage so that they can play a big role in the vision for the town.”
It’s almost a year since Kirklees Council announced that it had bought the George Hotel, which will house the UK’s National Rugby League Museum.
The authority paid £1.8m for the Grade II* listed building, which was built in the 1850s.
The cost of refurbishment could be as much as £9.27m.
The George Hotel is considered to be a “strategic building” within the council’s £250m Huddersfield Blueprint – a 10-year vision to re-imagine the town centre. The council has also bought the 1970s Piazza for £3.25m, moving the existing Queensgate Market to the other side of the town centre.
The project to restore the hotel on St George’s Square has received grant funding of £2m from Historic England’s High Streets Heritage Action Zone fund as well as £1.4m from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Additional funding will come from the council.
The council-owned Ramsden Estate Building, which was built in 1871, is also Grade II listed.
Six years ago it was partly converted, turning it from a 52,000 sq ft labyrinth of offices to a complex of 15 affordable one-bed apartments for rent by council tenants. The first, second and third floors of the block were converted. The heritage features of the building were retained.
The council has previously indicated that the ground floor could be used for retail, with upper floors being converted and utilised as apartments.
The imposing building retains many of its original Victorian features including tiled floors, fireplaces and wooden partitions.
David Shepherd, the council’s strategic director for growth and regeneration said: “The renovation of the George Hotel and Estates Building will help to bring more independent and local businesses to the town, increasing the town’s cultural and leisure offerings.
“Once completed, I’m sure that they will attract shoppers and visitors from across the region to the town centre.” Chris Collett from Historic England said: “By bringing these underused buildings back into to use, the High Street Heritage Action Zone will breathe new life into St George’s Square and encourage local people and visitors to spend more time in Huddersfield’s town centre.”
The George Hotel is famed for being the birthplace of rugby league on August 29, 1895.
The renovation of the George Hotel and Estates Building will help to bring more independent and local businesses to the
town.