Home Local News Historic Hall to open soon

Historic Hall to open soon

0
Astley Hall repairs (640x478)
Photo: Final works in the Great Hall before the historic panelling is reinstated

Chorley’s historic hall is set to reopen to the public at the end of this month following vital repairs needed to preserve the Grade 1 listed building.

Astley Hall is due to open its doors to the public on Saturday 29 August having been closed since Christmas for conservation works.

That work revealed that a foundation beam supporting the 400-year-old wall in the Great Hall, owned and managed by Chorley Council, had rotted and needed replacing.

Councillor Bev Murray, who oversees Astley Hall for Chorley Council, said: “We had hoped that once this was done, the Hall would reopen.

“But whilst the panelling was being taken off the wall to do this work, it was discovered that the timber wall frame was not properly tied to the front wall of the Hall and so we’ve had to have bespoke plates made.

“We were lucky enough to be able to open the Hall just for the weekend of the Chorley Flower Show to give people a chance to look around and enjoy the spectacular floral displays that adorned the rooms. Then it closed again for some finishing off works to be done, but I’m delighted to be able to say it will reopen for the Bank Holiday weekend and will be open every weekend for the rest of the year, plus Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays during school holidays!

“We are disappointed that the Hall had to close to the public for so long this year, but it was essential to get this urgent repair carried out to preserve it for future generations.”

Conservation consultant, Geoff Maybank who has been overseeing the work at the Hall, said the complexity of assessing how the Hall had been constructed had taken a lot of effort and that once work started it turned out there were a lot more repairs needed than expected.

He said that the repairs had been carried out using traditional materials and so any replacement parts had to be specially made.

He added: “The Hall is 450 years old, it’s bound to have issues, but we are hopeful we’ve cured the problem.”

The Hall will be open from 12 noon to 4.30pm on Saturdays and Sundays from 29 and 30 August, plus it’s open Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays during school holidays.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here