Historical hall to reopen after ceiling repaired

The ceiling took five months to restore

A Grade I listed hall is due to reopen in the summer following a £350,000 restoration of its ceiling.

The Victorian-built Moot Hall in Colchester has been closed to the public since early 2023 after structural assessments revealed the fibrous plaster ceiling posed a safety risk.

The city council said the restoration had taken almost "9,500 hours of skilled craftsmanship" over a five-month period.

The hall, on the second floor of the town hall, is renowned for its high ceiling, stained glass windows, and custom-built Norman and Beard organ.

The Town Hall was built in 1898 by architect John Belcher but surveys carried out in 2023 uncovered critical issues in the plaster’s support system, evidence of water damage and condensation, structural weaknesses, debris build-up, and added loads from fixtures.

The ceiling's extensive restoration programme began following a formal application to Historic England, along with comprehensive bat and owl surveys to safeguard protected species.

Moot Hall is on the second floor of the town hall

The hall is a Grade I listed building, meaning it is of exceptional architectural or historic interest

Work included tying individual ornate ceiling panels to the roof structure with thousands of metres of stainless-steel wire and creating 56 new plaster panels cast to match the hardboard panels in the central section.

Lambswool insulation was also laid in two layers along the ceiling length to maintain traditional building methods and improve energy efficiency.

The project was carried out using tower scaffolds and internal ceiling access, "demanding intense physical effort from the restoration team", the council said.

Its leader, Liberal Democrat David King, said the "transformation" was "a restoration fit for future generations".

He praised the work of those involved and said: "Their efforts have ensured that the Moot Hall will once again serve as a civic and cultural landmark for our community."

Elizabeth Hirst, head of Hirst Conservation which carried out the restoration, described the project as "challenging" but said it had been "a privilege" to work on Moot Hall's ceiling.

Once fully open, the hall is expected once again to host weddings, concerts, and civic events.