Morpeth Town Hall transformation:A summary of the Town Hall's refurbishment works
Morpeth Town Hall
The million pound refurbishment of Morpeth Town Hall is now complete with the grand historic building once against set to play an increasingly central role in the life of the town.
Two phases of work have not only cleaned, repaired and restored the exterior of the Town Hall but have opened up the interior through a sensitive and sympathetic transformation of space aimed at attracting more users into the building. The Town Hall in Morpeth was designed in 1714 by the renowned architect John Vanbrugh who was perhaps more famously known for his work at Blenheim Palace, Castle Howard and Seaton Delaval Hall.
For three centuries the Town Hall has dominated the centre of Morpeth and the building has been the focal point for community life for successive generations of Morpethians.
Never more so than 12 months ago when it became the emergency centre in the wake of the flood devastation that swept through the town, and then the temporary 'home' for the crafts people displaced from the Chantry until the flood damage to the ancient building could be repaired.
But in recent times the Town Hall's image has faded along with its external fabric and interior décor. Unattractive additions and modifications to areas such as the Butter Market and Corn Exchange would have been sufficient as Henry Warne of the Morpeth Civic Society has written, to have caused Sir John to 'turn in his grave'.
Now, however, thanks to visionary funding from the former Castle Morpeth Borough Council before it was merged into the unitary Northumberland County Council, and professional project management from Greater Morpeth Development Trust the Town Hall has been truly restored to its former glory.
Over two phases of work costing £1.2 million the Town Hall has been given the sort of facelift and makeover that will ensure that not only is it preserved and maintained as it ought to be, but is a building 'fit for purpose' and ready to serve the people of Morpeth through the 21st century.
Both phases were successfully managed by GMDT in time and on budget.
Phase one (March-August 2008) £450k
Phase one carried out last year saw the exterior stonework of the building some of which was described as being in a precarious state, sympathetically cleaned, restored and repaired. Repair work was also carried out in the Ballroom which had been damaged in a roof leak a few years earlier, and the grand staircase was decorated to once again become a striking central feature of the building.
Phase two (April-October 2009) £750k
Earlier this year work began on phase two of the project which has resulted in an even more dramatic impact on the Town Hall.
The Butter Market has been cleared and its formica-clad toilets have been demolished and relocated on the first floor of the building. A lift has also been installed in the Corn Exchange to enable visitors to easily access all areas of the Town Hall and a glazed entrance lobby created that Vanbrugh would undoubtedly have approved of.
The Corn Exchange ceiling and floor have been renewed and refurbished; kitchen improvements carried out to broaden catering opportunities and provision; walls and ceilings replastered and decorated where needed.
Electrical wiring in the building has been renewed; its heating system modernised and upgraded; and the latest communications systems installed.
Local architects Napper designed the work that has been carried out by main contractors Koru Property Services Ltd.
The next stage
The refurbished Town Hall will provide enhanced opportunities for the use of the spaces within the building and they have been designed to provide long-term flexibility to meet the demands of users. What has been delivered to date has been developed recognising the civic and community requirements for the Town Hall but there is also a need to address the commercial viability of its future. GMDT is keen to continue the work with the scheme not only to attract additional funding for further enhancements but also to manage the building to maximise the impact and return of the investment.
Bookings
Please contact GMDT to book facilities from 12th October onwards. Price list available upon request but are subject to review.
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Morpeth Town Hall – The Journey so far (November 2007 -June 2009)In November 2007 Benson & Forsyth renowned architects were commissioned by GMDT through the Town Hall Board to explore options for revitalising the Morpeth Town Hall so that it could, once more, play a central role in the life of the community and also provide a genuine attraction for those visiting the area.
The Town Hall sits centrally in the Castles, Woods and Waters study area and had several studies carried out in the previous decade but with particular reference to the Building Fabric Survey and Conservation Management Plan produced by Park/Page Architects in 2004.
A Feasibility Study was completed at the end of February 2008 and it concluded with a Vision Scheme for the Town Hall and its potential Extension, but it was recognised that funding would be a major challenge and that the scheme would need to be developed in a phased approach.
The Vision Scheme provided a framework for the redevelopment of the Town Hall in Morpeth, based around the introduction of a rear extension, which provides full access to each of the main levels in the historic building, as well as additional accommodation in the extension itself.
The provision of a new circulation armature in this location facilitates further options for alterations within the existing building. The new extension would contain a lift, internal means of Escape Stair and provides accessible access to the main public spaces at ground and first floor level.
The new extension additionally provides a range of spaces, which enhance the overall offer provided by the Town Hall. Importantly it will also signal and signify the ambition embraced by the renewal programme and afford the opportunity for those using the building, and visiting the town, to enjoy a clear understanding of Morpeth and the surrounding topography from the roof terrace.
The total cost for the Vision Scheme has been identified at between £4-5 million which was not readily available and it was greed that the vision scheme will need to be delivered in phases but with a focus of minimising abortive costs at each instance and additional alternative sources of funding would be identified and pursued.
Phase 1
This consisted of the External Fabric Refurbishment building on the roof restoration in 2005. There was a commitment from CMBC of £450,000 to deliver the scheme, which had been developed through consultation with CMBC Planners, the conservation Planner and English Heritage to retain the historic integrity of the building.
The scope of the works consisted of the following elements: Removing dirt and algae growth, and birdlime from the surface of the stonework. Removing ferrous inserts. Replacing damaged stones or indenting damaged stonework insitu. Repointing. Installation of a lead flashing to the top of the main cornice line to prevent water ingress. Installation of lighting protection. Works to external windows. Aesthetic improvement works relating to the Butter Market in particular but also to the Ballroom, Corn Exchange and related areas from any budget savings made during the project. There was the intention to Clear the Butter Market and relocate the toilets in this phase but this was deferred to phase 2.
It became apparent that previous repairs carried out many years ago, have not fully addressed problems caused by movement, water ingress and frost action and one of the false bell Towers contained stonework which was in a precarious state, as were the stone spheres which form part of the Carlisle Crest and although these were not identified as part of the scope of the contract the issues were addressed within the budget spend. The scheme was completed in August 2008 and the Town Hall was used as the emergency centre following the Floods in September 2008.
Phase 2
This consisted of addressing the Butter Market; relocation of toilets to the first floor and enabling increased access to all floors through the introduction of a lift within the Corn Exchange area. There would also be a full building and mechanical & engineering redesign resulting in fully upgraded heating, lighting, alarm and electrical systems. The total budget for this scheme is £700,000 and we are using local architects Napper to support the delivery of this phase which will be completed by October 2009.
Butter Market enhancements:
Remove existing WC's and storage accommodation and repair the damaged stone walls Reinstate the stone flooring (levelling screed, lino and tiling). Renew/Refurbish Doors and windows. Renew the ceiling. Install glazed entrance lobby Reopen archway to Corn Exchange kitchen area Install suitable fixtures & fittings, within the refurbished historic fabric Corn Exchange enhancements:
Installation of a circulation lobby Installation of DDA compliant lift Extension and upgrade of kitchen facilities Renew the ceiling. Refurbish flooring Reopen archway to Stairwell Introduction of suitable fixtures & fittings First Floor enhancements:
Provision of temporary toilets to the rear of the building for male, female and disabled users. Upgrade and conversion of Anteroom to accommodate lift Second Floor enhancements:
General
Electrical rewire and upgrade of alarm systems Refurbishment of heating distribution system enhancing boiler upgrade Introduction of wireless and loop communication systems Plaster repairs to walls and ceilings Redecoration where required The Next Stage
The revamped Town Hall will provide enhanced opportunities to increase use of the spaces within the Historic Fabric and they have been designed to provide long-term flexibility to meet the demands of users.
What has been delivered to date has been developed recognising the Civic and Community requirements for the Town Hall but there is also a need to address the commercial viability of its future and GMDT are keen to continue there work with the scheme not only to attract additional funding for further enhancements but also to manage the building to maximise the impact and return of the investment to date.
· Existing room transformed back into a multipurpose public venue
· New floor ceiling incorporating flexible service provision
· New contemporary draft lobby
KITCHEN
· Larger kitchen to allow bigger functions
· Proposed access routes to butter market for greater flexibility
· New kitchen units
LOBBY AND LIFT
· Lift access to 3 floors via new platform lift
· Space created for easy access to and from the new platform lift
TOILETS
· New toilet facilities incorporating additional accessible toilet facility
· Better environment through naturally daylit and ventilated space
SERVICES
· Safer healthier Town Hall following the removal of asbestos and complete electrical rewire
· Upgraded IT facilities
· Improved lighting throughout
OTHER
· Robing room refurbished incorporating beverage station
· Ante Room refurbished
Subject to planning the scheme will commence in March 2009 with the building programme last until October 2009 and will require the successful contractor to have full access.
Once this work is completed the building will be significantly be improved and we are hopeful of attracting all the existing customer base back but also attracting a much wider ramge of users of the facilities and the introduction of appropriate new uses such as weddings.
The long term vision scheme is still an aspiration for GMDT and the phase 2 works have been designed to move the building towards the vision but deliver a phase which will be self contained if the additional funding required could not be sourced in the short term.
GMDT hope to deliver the phase 2 with the same quality of the first phase and have recognized the need to have a greater local architectural precence during this phase and are using Newcastle based Napper Architects. They have been appointed to lead the executive team for the Phase 2 redevelopment of the Grade II listed Morpeth Town Hall.
John Curtis, director in charge of the project said "bringing new life to historic buildings present a unique architectural challenge, and I am looking forward to working closely with Benson and Forsyth, with whom we have previously collaborated with on the £2.4 million award winning Jerwood Centre in Grasmere, and GMDT in delivering their vision. The next phase of the development will completely reinvigorate the Butter Market and internal public circulation, and open an exciting new chapter in the life of this important civic building."
Copies of the plans are currently being displayed in the Butter Market and GMDT welcome any feedback on the proposals.
* See also bottom of this page to download the plans off the website.
The exterior works were completed one week ahead of schedule in August 2008. The activities delivered have addressed all the exterior stonework, which has been restored to its former glory through quality workmanship by the main contractors, Historic Properties Restoration Ltd.
The stonework has been cleaned, repaired and re-pointed. The windows have all been repaired and decorated and any structural issues identified have been addressed as part of the work programme.
While working on the parapets it was discovered that the two towers were in a dangerous condition due to movement of the main slabs and both of these were addressed within the work done.
The initial work being completed in September has addressed some issues, which limit the usage of the spaces in the Town Hall and the quality of the experience when there, and primarily consists of the Corn Exchange, the staircase and the Ballroom.
Phase Two Development
The second phase is anticipated to commence in October 2008 and will focus on addressing the access issues of the building through the introduction of a lift, relocation of the toilets to the first floor, refurbishment of the Butter Market to release it for operational use and addressing some of the services infrastructure. All of this work will be done with the longer-term vision in mind but with a focus on delivering an improved functional building to the community of Morpeth. This should be complete by Spring 2009.
We would like to make a special mention to Norman Froud who is currently covering the caretaking duties at the Town Hall and has been a critical interface with the users and on-site contractors to make things run smoothly over the last three months.
Morpeth Town Hall
The Town Hall is a Vanbrugh building of note and the Trust have worked with Castle Morpeth Borough Council through the Town Hall Board to develop proposals and raise funding to deliver the aspirations of the Community for the buildings sustainable future. There are two key strands of work around the Town Hall:
Future Feasibility
The architects Benson & Forsyth were appointed in November 2007 to review all the previous studies produced in relation to the Town Hall and review development options to maximise the impact of the building for the benefit of the Community but also to make its operation sustainable.
An outline “vision” of how the building could be physically developed has been drafted and will be consulted on with the public during the month of June.
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Throughout the development of these proposals there has been full consultation with statutory bodies and English Heritage so that the proposals could be influenced by the authorities charged with retaining classical elements but recognising developments need to address future potential users such as services and access.
Exterior Development
An initial piece of work relating to the development of the Butter Market and the physical condition of the building exterior was supported by Castle Morpeth Borough Council and project managed by GMDT. This work tackles the following areas:
• Stonework cleaning, repair and repointing
• Repair and refurbishment of windows to front, side and rear
• Relocation of toilets and refurbishment of Butter Market
• Refurbishment of metal grilles
• Redecoration of key internal areas
After some initial disruption when the scaffolding was being erected the job has been running very smoothly and is due to be completed on schedule in early August. The decision regarding the toilets in the Butter Market is being reviewed to ensure that the scheme addresses Access and functional uses. For information on the Town Hall and how the work is progressing please contact David Lodge at david.lodge@gmdt.org
* GMDT were sad to learn of the death of Jim Buchanan who died suddenly. Jim had been very helpful in the initial development phases of the Town Hall.
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