| Hello and welcome to the first edition of our monthly bulletin – which has been especially created to help keep you up-to-date with all the news and events at The Civic Barnsley.
I hope that you find this information useful, and remember if you have any questions or queries about work currently being undertaken at The Civic, please feel free to email enquiries@barnsleycivic.co.uk
Sprinkler system fills two swimming pools
A large hole has been excavated inside Mandela Gardens to provide water for the new sprinkler system inside The Civic. The tanks which will contain the water for the system will hold enough water to fill two large swimming pools!
Opening programme
In the next couple of months, The Civic will be confirming its eagerly awaited re-opening programme. There will be plenty of opportunities to get involved, including attending preview evenings, competitions and guided tours around the building. If you haven’t already registered your details on the site, you can do so by clicking here.
Why not refer a friend – if you know someone that you think will enjoy hearing about the latest updates from The Civic, please forward this email to them.
Reading Room ceiling restored to original glory
As development work inside The Civic nears completion, one of the most dramatic features of the historic building has been restored to its former glory.
Work restoring the intricate Reading Room ceiling now been completed and will form a focal point inside the new retail area of the iconic building. The ceiling, which features detailed plasterwork, was an integral part of The Civic, and when work began on the structural alterations to the building, a specialist team was commissioned to restore it to its former glory.
Following an inspection by English Heritage, permission was granted to allow the ceiling to be temporarily removed from the site to ensure that it would not be damaged as the construction work took place inside the building.
However, when it became apparent that the horse hair and lime plaster materials used in the original had deteriorated badly, it was agreed that a copy would be made using casts, wherever possible, of the original.
The team of specialist restoration experts was then able to reinstall the replica in exactly the same place as the original, allowing visitors to The Civic to once again enjoy the ceiling. As a Grade 2 listed building, any plans for the ceiling had to be approved by English Heritage.
Archie Sinclair, a conservation officer with Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council said:
“The English Heritage inspectors judged that the ceiling spoke of the important social history of the building in providing a mechanics institute, calling it ‘a tangible reminder of the historical use of the building’.
“Original plans to reinstall the original ceiling were unfeasible due to the cost of restoration, and so an agreement was reached with English Heritage to replace it, on the grounds that it was the aesthetics of the roof and not the materials which added to the history of the building.”
Civic Development Director, Fergus Justice-Mills, commented:
“The new Civic will meet the developing needs of Barnsley’s creative industries but, at the same time, it is important not to forget the history of the building. Throughout the site, many original features have been retained, and in this case, we wanted to make sure that the replacement ceiling was as close to the original as possible.
“The ceiling helps to add a dramatic feeling to the new retail zone, and I’m sure it will become a talking point with visitors.”
Thanks for your continued support of The Civic, we’ll be in touch again soon! |
