Repairs to make Grade I listed hall safe completed

Restoration work to make a Grade I listed hall safe for visitors again has been completed.

Structural assessments in 2022 found serious concerns with the ceiling at Moot Hall, on the second floor of the town hall in Colchester.

A £350,000 project to repair and preserve the ceiling had been a success and the public would be able to return to the hall from July, the city council said.

Council leader David King said: "To see it restored with such care is inspiring. It has taken thousands of hours of craftsmanship, and the result is something our city can be proud of."

"My thanks go to the skilled and dedicated team who brought this beautiful space back to life. Thanks to their efforts, the Moot Hall will once again serve as a civic, cultural, and community landmark," he added.

Moot Hall is renowned for its high ceiling, stained glass windows, and custom-built Norman and Beard organ.

The Town Hall was built in 1898 by architect John Belcher but surveys carried out in 2022 uncovered critical issues in the plaster's support system, evidence of water damage and condensation, structural weaknesses, debris build-up, and added loads from fixtures.

Restoration of the hall had taken almost 9,500 hours of skilled craftsmanship over a six-month period, the council said.

It began following a formal application to Historic England, along with comprehensive bat and owl surveys to safeguard protected species.

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