Time to restore Kendal clock tower

Scaffolding is about to be erected at Kendal Town Hall in preparation for the sympathetic restoration of the listed building’s clock tower.

The work will involve replacing around 80 eroded sandstone blocks and carvings and is expected to take 24 weeks to complete.

The crumbling stonework was made worse during Storm Desmond in December 2015 when temporary safety barriers had to be erected outside the building.

Listed building consent has now been given for the restoration work to be carried out on the corner of Highgate and Lowther Street.

In order to keep disruption to a minimum, scaffolding will be erected on Sunday 18 June. A temporary raised gantry will be constructed across the front of the building, allowing work to continue without affecting the pavement below or public entrances into the town hall.          

A spokesperson for South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) said: “Kendal Town Hall is treasured by local people and admired by visitors. This important restoration work, involving a mixture of intricate and traditional stonemasonry skills, should make the clock tower good for the next 100 years.

“Although we have identified what needs to done to carefully match and replace the original stonework which dates back to 1892, once the scaffolding is up we will be able to take a closer look to see if more work is needed.” 

The work will also involve de-scaling and possibly some re-pointing. It will then be steam cleaned.    

Local architects Paul Grout Associates are liaising with Kendal Civic Society to photograph and record the restoration which is expected to be completed by early December.

The work will be managed by property consultants Lambert Smith Hampton.