Huddersfield Town Hall

Sector: Public

Main Contractor: Strategic Team Group

Architect: Aedas

Services
• Site Survey
• Lime Plastering
• Restoration of historic plaster mouldings

Having commissioned in-depth Advisory Reports from Ornate Interiors for town halls in Batley, Dewsbury and Cleckheaton, Kirklees Council invited the company to help the chosen main contractors Strategic Team Group with the restoration of Huddersfield Town Hall.

The initial inspection found many cracks and poor quality previous repairs in the ceilings of the meeting rooms. The mouldings had been cut out in some areas to accommodate conduits and cables and many enrichments were missing or damaged. The stairwell ceilings had also suffered from repair work using inappropriate materials. The Advisory Report pointed out that before any replacement mouldings could be attached to the lath and plaster sub-base, tonnes of Victorian ‘clinker’ would have to be removed from behind the ceilings. ‘Clinker’ – a by-product of the mining industry – was often used as a form of insulation and sound proofing in Victorian construction.

The Ornate Interiors craftsmen set about reinstating the fine decorative features of the meeting rooms, corridors and stairwell. The first phase concentrated on meeting rooms 2 and 3. Profiles of the original cornices were made and new sections were manufactured to replace damaged areas before 130 pieces of floral enrichment were bedded in. The stairwell ceilings featured bands of decorative mouldings running parallel to the cornice, with a central ornate ceiling rose 2m in diameter. The ceilings were secured with penny washers and screws, then damaged areas were cut out and cracks made good by hand.

The restoration of the stunning internal decorations at the Town Hall is not yet complete. Ornate Interiors will continue to work directly with Kirklees Building Services on ongoing improvements.

Ornate Interiors were pleased to have completed scheduled works within a demanding tight deadline, and to have contributed to a first class restoration of a splendid venue that also now serves as the town’s Concert Hall.