CURRENT CONDITION

CURRENT CONDITION

The Hall has been used intensively by the Army, as public sector offices and as a residential neurological care home for over a hundred years.

These commercial uses combine large staff, resident and visitors numbers with heavy wear and tear and limited repair budgets. The result is significant areas of neglect including; extensive damp, structural problems, dereliction, and an area badly damaged by fire which has not been rebuilt.

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The second floor, 5,000sq ft of servants' accommodation, has been sealed off and is unusable requiring complete re-roofing, new windows, new access, new services and damp remediation followed by decoration, furnishing and an ongoing conservation plan.

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The heating, plumbing, electrical, security and fire systems all require replacement and there remain areas where asbestos is present and these need to be remediated.

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A Condition Survey was carried out in 2019 which highlights the significant areas of work required. This forms the starting point of the specification of works being drawn up for the restoration.

As well as restoration works to the Hall and Stable Block, the woodlands, gardens and grounds have been subject to neglect for some years. The entrance gates are gone, the tunnel under the driveway is dilapidated and maybe unsafe, the woodlands are unmanaged and overgrown and the terraces and lawns are in poor repair. Extensive stone walls need total renovation.

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There is a great deal of work to be done and the budget is far from settled but is expected in the region of £15m. The full restoration will take 2 to 3 years.