A New Phase Begins…

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

A New Phase Begins…

Photo: Sarah Peart/Darren Washington, Centre Space Arts

It’s been a momentous week for everyone involved with the rebuild at Betley Court. Phase 1A has come to an end, which means the walls are repaired and ready to receive everything associated with the roof. Dozens of new concrete lintels have been installed, new brickwork installed and pointed - or repointed in the case of old brickwork. Padstones (huge solid lumps of concrete) are perched at strategic points around the perimeter walls waiting for Phase 1B to begin. We’ve come a long way from those devastating early days after the fire, when we wondered what was to become of the old house.

Circled in blue, the new solid padstones Photo: Nigel Brown

There will be a brief pause before work starts on the roof. Some of the construction team from Midland Conservation Ltd are moving onto new projects (thank you, guys. You were great!), and in their wake, we will be joined by new trades and craftspeople. The padstones I mentioned will soon carry enormous new beams, and these in turn will bear the new roof. In a few weeks, the makeshift workshop up in ‘the factory’ in the old servants’ wing will be a hive of activity, as work begins on the new trusses.

I’ll end by sharing a few more of Darren Washington and Sarah Peart’s superb photos taken at the end of Phase 1A.

All best wishes

Ladybird Su