The refurbishment and restoration of Manor House Library, designed to make full use of the building and incorporate many new facilities including a Children’s Centre, is making good progress.
The refurbished building will be accessible to all members of the community including parents with pushchairs and wheelchair users. A new main lift will allow access to all floors for the first time. Other improvements will deliver a renewed library, an IT training suite, a movie screening room, versatile meeting rooms and classes, improved toilet facilities and a crèche.
The team of builders and restorers who have been undertaking the delicate work needed on this much loved Grade II* Georgian building have had to overcome many unexpected challenges.
The most significant of these was discovered when the east wing was demolished. There were found to be serious shortcomings in the fabric of the building. The installation of additional steel beams needed to strengthen the building proved to be a serious mechanical challenge - the beams would not fit through the windows or doors and had to be engineered in to be assembled inside the building. Running new cabling and piping through the historic structure required a lot of skill and time. The new lift is a key addition that also required the attention of experts.
Aileen Buckton, Director of Community Services, said: “Ensuring the successful restoration of a period building that is of such importance to the local community is a great responsibility. We have been at pains to preserve and retain the character of the original building and are making sure that all necessary alterations to meet the needs of today’s community, such as disability access, are sensitively and sympathetically carried out.
“The challenges we’ve faced have meant the works are taking longer than originally planned but we are determined to make sure the building and facilities will be of a very high standard.
“Of course, we’re all disappointed the project’s been delayed but we feel it’s important to do the job thoroughly and get it absolutely right. I’ll be as delighted as the next person when the building opens later this spring.”