The Royal Borough of Greenwich, Woolwich Town Hall conservation and repairs project (English Heritage Grade II* listed) is now approaching completion, following an extensive programme of building conservation and repairs works including conservation consolidation works, refurbishment to many historic features, conservation and updating elements to help reduce the building carbon footprint through carefully designing insulation into the historic elements, all to help protect and enhance one of the borough’s most architecturally significant civic buildings.
Drawing upon our long standing experience in delivering conservation and historic building projects, many to this country’s Grade I listed buildings and Scheduled Monuments, including palaces, museums, cathedrals, mansion houses, libraries and other significant listed buildings, many being civic and community focused projects and major public buildings, we have supported the Town Hall project with a selection of our multi-discipline services, including our in house professionals: Conservation and Historic Buildings Surveyor, Building Surveying, Clerk of Works, Quantity Surveying and Health & Safety.
Project Overview
Our involvement began at pre contract stage, where we surveyed the building and noted the building defects along with its heritage assets. We researched historic documents, all drawn information available, along with the building heritage archives, to produce a scope of required works. We produced the order of cost estimate.
We then moved forward to deeper research and investigative works to determine a more detailed assessment of the works, prioritising the most essential through to the least. When the scope, supported by our estimates, was discussed with the Client to determine the works that could be funded, this formed the basis of our detailed drawings, specification and Bills of Quantities.
These comprehensively covered the full scope of known works, along with provisions for further works that could not be detailed until on site, as scaffold access and opening up were required. This ensured contractors could provide accurate, comparable pricing in the competitive tender we sought and obtained, enabling strong financial post tender control (undertaken by others as required by council rules). The tendering, with detailed specifications, drawings and Bills of Quantities, established a clear, robust scope of works and a competitive price for the Royal Borough of Greenwich.
External Conservation Works
The external works have been extensive. The entire roofscape was surveyed and almost all has been renewed, including new slate coverings, new leadwork, new copper domes and extensive structural roof repairs. Existing skylights have been replaced, mansafe systems installed, and all roof coverings removed and reinstated in line with heritage requirements.
The façades have undergone significant conservation, including brick and stone cleaning, repointing in matching lime mortar, repair of damaged masonry, reinstatement of original detailing and full chimney restoration, restoring lost historic features as far as reasonably possible.
Across the building, all existing windows have been repaired, redecorated and upgraded where possible, with external doors and windows replaced only where necessary and always in keeping with the historic fabric.
Internal Conservation and Restoration
Internally, the project has reinstated lost historic features as far as possible, to respect and enhance the building’s original historic appearance and character. This includes full restoration and conservation of the Victoria Hall’s original plasterwork, stained glass windows and its 1903 lighting systems.
In the public spaces, including the Victoria Hall, we installed an upgraded fire alarm system, an aspiration system that constantly samples the air for any trace of fire, remaining discreet while providing the highest level of early warning.
Specialist heritage works have been a major component of the internal refurbishment, including conservation repairs to historic moulded plaster ceilings, restoration of decorative lost finishes and full redecoration in the original heritage colours using heritage paint. All modern paint had to be removed to allow the external walls to breathe as intended.
These tasks required specialist heritage craftsmen, with works carefully sequenced and closely monitored by our experts to ensure the building’s architectural integrity was preserved.
Working in an Operational Building
All works have been carried out while the Town Hall remained fully operational and occupied, a significant logistical challenge requiring phased delivery, detailed planning and continuous coordination with the client team to maintain safety, access and business continuity.
A Landmark nearing completion
As the project enters its final stages, the transformation of Woolwich Town Hall is becoming fully visible. The combination of conservation and restoration of the building’s heritage, structural repairs and upgrades will safeguard the building for future generations while improving its functionality and resilience for the community it serves.
