Approval has been granted for repairs to the sandstone s of one of the seaside town’s most historic buildings after a survey revealed that parts of the structure were in a “critical condition”.
The 16 s at the Grade-II listed Old Town Hall in Whitby will be restored as part of a larger £1.2m project aimed at transforming this landmark into a heritage and community venue.
North Yorkshire Council had a specialist assessment done on the 18th Century building while renovation work is ongoing.
The report indicated that three of the s had deteriorated so much that they needed specialized structural repairs, while the other s were found to need either significant or moderate work.
Planning documents noted that some damage was due to past inappropriate repairs, which led to issues like cracking, surface erosion, and delamination in certain sections of the stonework.
Historic England supported the repair plans, which will restore damaged parts of the s using “carefully selected natural sandstone, chosen to match the existing stone as closely as possible in colour, texture, durability and weathering characteristics”.
As reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, plans submitted to the council stated that work would only focus on areas identified as “cracked, hollow, eroded or otherwise structurally compromised”.
The plans specified: “No general opening-up of the s shall be undertaken, as intrusive exposure of defective zones may cause further damage to fragile historic sandstone.”
These repairs are part of a broader program to restore the Old Town Hall and create what council officials have described as a “vibrant heritage venue”.
Renovation work started in 2025 and is funded through a £17.1m grant awarded to Whitby from the government’s Towns Fund.
<p class="mb-4 text-lg md: leading-8 break-wordsmore about his life. Once finished, it will highlight the history of both the town hall and Whitby's marketplace while providing space for community events, cultural activities, and small businesses.
Council officials mentioned that this project would help increase foot traffic in the town center and boost local economy by creating a flexible venue for residents and visitors.Tune into highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds or catch up with Look North’s latest episode.More on this storyRelated internet links
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