Historic landmark town centre building set for stabilisation work and crack repairs

A LANDMARK building in the centre of Warrington is set for works to ensure its stability and long-term future.

Parr Hall, a concert hall, music and entertainment venue, will undergo stabilisation and crack repairs after listed building consent was granted.

Applicant Warrington Borough Council had to apply to itself for permission to carry out the work to the Grade II-listed building.

Located on the south side of Palmyra Square, Parr Hall was built in 1895 and first listed in April 1975.

Planning documents state: “Defects were recently identified at both corners of the verges and eaves junctions in the form of cracking and horizontal displacement.

“The affected areas are visible from the left-hand side elevation when viewed from the front of the building.

“The cracking is located around stone kneeler blocks, or gable springers, below the verges at both ends of the roof which extends to the surrounding brickwork around the stone kneeler blocks.

“A structural engineer was commissioned to investigate the cracking and provide a sympathetic repairing solution, based on the listed status of the building.

“The purpose of the repairs is to stabilise any further movement or displacement of the stone kneeler blocks at both ends of the roof, brought about by the horizontal thrust of the roof construction, and to make good cracked mortar joints around the stone kneeler blocks.”