Building restoration is careful and precise work, and that’s modern buildings I am talking about. When it comes to heritage buildings, the work has to be even more carefully carried out.
That’s why restoration work can take years to complete, in fact, even minor work can take a long time.
This isn’t really surprising when you consider everything that goes into restoration work. Concrete repair, architectural work, material sourcing and so much more. When you’re dealing with a heritage building, that work is even more difficult.
But there have been thousands of heritage buildings that have been restored and saved thanks to professional restoration work. These building could have easily been lost to time but where saved and restored to their original glory. Yes, the restoration process can take a long time but when you can save a heritage building, it’s worth the wait.
Today I’d like to showcase some of my favorite heritage buildings that have been lovingly resorted and rescued from the ravages of time.
Hellifield Peel
When you think of restoration work on a heritage building, you might think of small-scale work like repairing a tower or roof but that certainly wasn’t the case with Hellifield Peel in North Yorkshire. Hellifield Peel was in ruins. While many of the lower floors were still standing, the roof was completely lost and much of the building was buried beneath dirt and soil.
But if you saw Hellifield Peel now you would hardly believe it. Hellifield Peel was restored by the Shaw Family who have transformed it into a small hotel. The roof, floors, and pretty much everything else has all been restored showing that heritage building restoration work can really transform ruins to riches.
Tynemouth Station
It might have been a Grade 2 Victorian building, but Tynemouth Station had been in a state of disrepair for a long time. The elegant iron work had long since rusted and the stunning glass canopies had been left shattered and broken. And although the station had survived the threat of demolition in 1986, it was still in a very sad state.
Tynemouth Station has the unusual distinction of being restored twice, once in the late 1980’s after the threat of demolition and once again much more extensively in 2012. The iron work was restored so it once again created an elegant and timeless beauty and the glass canopies where beautifully re-crafted.
The St Pancras Renaissance
The St Pancras Renaissance hotel is certainly a throwback to a time long since passed. What was once a grand hotel was now a forgotten relic of the past. The hotel did have a short life as an office block but was soon boarded up and left empty.
But now it thankfully is once again thriving as a hotel! Restoration work was carefully carried out over a number of years and many photos of the hotel’s former life were used for reference during the restoration work. The hotel was also expanded and has been a big success since it reopened in 2011.
You might know of a few heritage buildings in your area that have been restored or are having restoration work done to them right now. Most towns and cities have quite a few heritage buildings and part of the reason we can still enjoy these buildings is because of the high-quality restoration work that’s been carried out.
Photo Credits
Hellifield Peel – Wikimedia Creative Commons
Tynemouth Station – Wikimedia Creative Commons
The St Pancras Renaissance – Wikimedia Creative Commons
Guest Author Bio
Maise Hunns
Maise Hunns is Magician Oliver B’s right-hand woman. She has worked with him for many years and helped him to practice the art of magic and grow his passionate performances. As a family friend, she knew Oliver when he was just 6 years old and began his journey into magic.
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