The refurbishment of the Grade II listed building, for clients the Ministry of Justice and Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS), brought together a wide range of crafts from traditional ironmongery to French polishing and specialist joinery restoration works. Kier employed local tradespeople who had previous knowledge of the building to carry out much of the work.
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The restoration work carried out to the colonial style Guildhall, which was built in 1771 on the site of a medieval hall, included installing a new heating system, soft floor furnishing and toilet facilities throughout, as well as new doors and ironmongery to the requirements of the listed building specification.
The existing sash windows were repaired and refurbished and the original Morely table and chairs, staircase banister and benches were repaired and French polished. In the foyer area, cracked marble tiles were replaced and a new security arch and desk installed, while externally, the stonework to all façades was cleaned, repaired and replaced.
During the restoration Kier worked closely with the council, co-ordinating the works to ensure that local shops were not affected during the lucrative Christmas period, and to make sure disruption to festivities was kept to a minimum.
(CD/GK)
