RESTORATION WORKS COMPLETE ON HISTORIC WESTMINSTER HALL
AFTER vital restoration works , the iconic Grade 1 listed Westminster Hall – the oldest part of the Palace of Westminster – has been returned to its full glory so it can be appreciated for decades to come .
Works to clean the hall ’ s 14th century hammer-beam roof internally ; carry out essential repairs to the roof timber trusses ; repair and restore the lead-covered roof lantern ; install fire safety equipment , including an automated fire detection and voice alarm system ; and install all cabling infrastructure for a future lighting scheme have now been completed .
Built environment consultancy Pick Everard – operating under Perfect Circle ’ s unique collaboration – provided project management services for the scheme , which was accelerated by SCAPE Consultancy , a direct award framework that drives collaboration , efficiency , time and cost savings .
Gary Buick , director at Pick Everard , which is one of Perfect Circle ’ s shareholders and founding partners , said : “ Westminster Hall is a key thoroughfare to the Palace of Westminster and used by hundreds of people daily . Over the past few years , restoration and maintenance works have been carried out to ensure the hall remains safe for public use .
“ The roof lantern atop the hall has been carefully dismantled and restored using traditional craftsmanship . Hidden since 2005 , the ornate timber interior of the lantern can be seen once more .
“ Not only can the public experience Westminster Hall in its original glory , but the beams and lantern shouldn ’ t require further conservation work for another hundred or so years , providing a lasting legacy for generations to come .”
The hall – which is deemed to be the gateway to the Palace of Westminster , a UNESCO World Heritage Site – was originally built in 1097 by King William II and later remodelled to include the magnificent hammer-beam roof by Richard II in 1393 . It is the only part of the palace that survives in almost its original form , despite being ravaged by a fire in October 1834 and damaged by an incendiary bomb during the Second World War .
The uses of the hall have included great state occasions , tournaments , coronation feasts , state trials and even a marketplace . Notable historical events include the trials of William Wallace and Charles I and , in more recent years , ceremonial addresses by the Queen , Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama . Today , it continues to be used as the venue
68 - www . refurbandrestore . co . uk for lying-in-state royals , as well as a raft of events and public displays .
After the hall was bombed in the war , the roof lantern that sits atop the roof was rebuilt in the 1950s . In 2005 , a temporary crash deck was installed to ensure the structure was safe , but which obscured the view of the lantern – limiting public appreciation for more than a decade .
Gary said : “ As the roof lantern is a timber structure with lead cladding , cast lead detailing and internal timber panels , its restoration required a lot of specialist carpentry works . For health and safety purposes , we couldn ’ t put any additional weight on the roof so a complex , selfsupporting scaffold bridge was constructed so work could be carried out .
“ It was of great importance that the lantern remained true to its roots , so the original sand-cast lead was removed , melted down and re-cast using the same traditional method that was applied when it was made in the 1950s .