Workers on the project to repair and restore the Grade I-listed Manchester Town Hall will be raising the roof this week (week commencing Monday 8 September) as it reaches a major milestone.
The enormous temporary covering which has kept the building watertight while extensive work has taken place to its Victorian roof will be removed in sections by a 300-tonne crane.
It means that the roofline, which has been concealed beneath the temporary roof since spring 2022 will be visible again for the first time in more than three years.
In that time a huge amount of work has taken place to repair and restore the nationally-significant building. This includes:
Roof slates – More than 100,000 have been replaced using slate from the same Cumbrian quarry as the 1870s originals. Each one has been spilt and trimmed by hand, with traditional detailing carefully copied.
Chimneys – The 37 enormous chimney stacks have been repaired with damaged sections replaced and reconstructed using sandstone which matches the original in type and carved detail. The capping stones are so large and heavy that they had to be individually lifted by crane.
Decorative ironwork – Tonnes of original cast iron decorative work, known as brattishing, has been removed, repaired, repainted in Burgundy Red (the original colour favoured by town hall architect Alfred Waterhouse) and refixed.
Gutters and water outlets – Gutters have been carefully redesigned to meet current standards and ensure easier maintenance. They have been enhanced and enlarged to cope with predicted increases in rainfall and flash storms associated with climate change – helping to futureproof the historic building. Cast iron pipes have been repaired, altered to work more efficiently and again repainted in the original Burgundy Red.
Lighting – A new LED lighting system has been installed to highlight decorative Gothic Revival architectural features to ensure the Town Hall looks its best after night, providing an impressive backdrop to Albert Square.
Windows – Almost 1,200 wooden and metal-framed windows have been restored, retaining original glass where possible or using matching handblown glass.
Statues – The façade includes a number of medieval-style carved stone figures. These have been repaired and securely fixed.
With the building’s restored 280-ft clock tower having been uncovered last year, a significant part of the repaired and restored building will have emerged from beneath the scaffolding and sheeting.
Deputy Leader Councillor Garry Bridges said:
“Manchester is getting this beloved landmark back, in magnificent shape. Our once-in-a-century project to repair and restore the town hall is safeguarding it for future generations.
“It is painstaking, complicated and challenging work but it’s a nationally important heritage building and there are no short cuts.
“We’re looking forward to reaching the point where we can welcome people inside again, with greater opportunities to experience its architecture and artefacts. In the meantime, it’s great that people can see more of the progress which is being made.”
The removal of the first half of the temporary roof is scheduled, weather permitting, to begin on Tuesday 9 September with the second half to be removed later in the month.
Although the newly-revealed section of the building will initially be coated in several years’ worth of accumulated dust, a few rain showers should see it back to its best.
Note to Editors: For clarity, a 300-tonne crane is a crane with a lifting capacity of 300 tonnes, not one which weighs that amount.
