Bid to dismantle hall's chimneys amid safety risk

The main building dates back to the 1840s

The 175-year-old chimneys of a historic hall in Leicestershire could be dismantled and stored to allow the venue to reopen to the public.

The main building of Beaumanor Hall in Woodhouse, near Loughborough, closed in April after the chimneys were found to pose a "potential risk to the public and staff" by structural engineers.

Owner Leicestershire County Council said the closure would mean disruption to weddings and receptions booked at the hall "for at least 10 weeks".

The authority has now applied for planning permission to dismantle the chimneys, some of which weigh more than seven tonnes, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

An application submitted to its own planning department said the "deteriorated" chimneys would be taken down to a "safe height" to allow people back into the building "at the earliest opportunity".

The bricks would be "protected" in a "secured compound", the application added, with the chimneys to be restored to the "previous dimensions and arrangement" at a later date.

Ceremonies are now taking place inside a marquee on the grounds

The main building, which dates back to the 1840s, is the only part of the site shut, with school and outdoor residential stays still set to take place.

The hall has hired a marquee in the grounds for wedding ceremonies and in April it said it was "looking at alternative venues for couples with wedding receptions".

The application also seeks to retain these marquees until 4 July alongside security fencing, a temporary office building, and a toilet block.