External works near completion at Earlestown Town Hall

Article date: 14 April 2023

Dating back to 1892, the Grade II listed building - a rich part of Newton-le-Willows' heritage which once staged The Beatles - was closed in 2008 to meet budget savings.    

Due to significant investment and levels of commitment by the current council, the facades of the Grade II listed building have now undergone a wholesale transformation which has included restoring the clock tower, extensive roofing repairs, new windows, repointing and treatment of the stonework.   

The final stages are now being put in place, which include installation of the final windows and cleaning the façades, before the building is handed back to St Helens Borough Council by local contractors EFT Construction.   

The building's closure in 2008 resulted in water damage and the development of dry rot in many areas. This has required extensive preliminary internal works, involving the removal of internal finishes such as plaster and skirting boards for specialist treatments to the building's bare fabric.   

This explains the current temporary internal appearance of Earlestown Town Hall, but the council's successful Levelling Up Fund bid of £20million for Earlestown is now seeing the focus switch to repurposing the space, with detailed designs now being drawn up to show how the finished internal layout will be used and will look once complete.     

Councillor Richard McCauley, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing, said: "I had a chance to see the progress that has been made on this much loved and vitally important part of Earlestown and our borough's history. Restoring a building that has been closed for many years is a painstaking process, particularly given its deteriorated state and as we sought to conserve many of its ornate decoration.  

"Even though the main internal works have not yet started you can see the potential for this building to once again become a real community asset for our borough. Already the external works have boosted the economy of our borough through supply chains and the delivery of apprenticeships and job opportunities for residents.    

"Our Levelling Up Fund success means we can move forward now with the final phase of design and delivery on the internal sections of the building to create a multi-use venue that offers the community many more opportunities."