Conservation and Repair of grade II* Listed Celynen Collieries Memorial Hall

Descriptions

The Celynen Collieries Institute and Memorial Hall is situated in Newbridge, Gwent and the Trustees along with Caerphilly County Borough Council are seeking suitable providers to undertake conservation and repair works to the building. The project is a community based initiative, which has received confirmation of funding for construction works to be carried out in two phases over the next three years and the first phase of works is currently in the process of being completed. This notice relates to the second phase of the works programme involving the conservation and repair of the grade II* listed Art Deco Memorial Hall and it is envisaged that this phase of the works will begin in early 2013 and continue into early 2014.The phase two works will complete the Trustees’ vision for the Celynen Collieries Institute and Memorial Hall. The Memorial Hall (known locally as the Memo) was built in 1924 to commemorate the dead of the First World War and was paid for by the community of Newbridge. Located between the Institute (currently being restored) and High Street to the north and Ty-llywydd Place to the south, the Memorial Hall is a large stone built building with an imposing, red brick façade to its front elevation. It contains a ground floor ballroom with an auditorium above and, with the exception of the ballroom, has been closed since 1972. The Memorial Hall is listed Grade II*.The auditorium (which is on the upper floor) was built as both a theatre and cinema and its interior is an exceptionally important survival, remaining little changed from their original form. In addition to being visually resplendent, it retains many surviving items, including decorative plasterwork, early paint finishes, early proscenium curtains and cast iron seating to the balcony. The stage is also intact along with the associated projector and dressing rooms, which have again changed little from their original form. The interior of the ballroom (which is on the lower floor) has been the subject of several alterations, including the removal of the original sweet kiosk and the room’s complete refurbishment in 1960 (which involved the insertion of a side bar and suspended ceiling along with extensive redecoration which concealed the earlier panelled walls). WC provision was also increased by adding a toilet block extension to the front of the Hall in the 1950’s and further increased in the 1980’s with an extension to the side. External work to the Memorial Hall will consist of removing intrusions from the façade, repairing or replacing the existing fabric with like for like materials (including roof coverings) and reinstating missing details to known or archaeologically deduced information. Internal work to the Memorial Hall will generally consist of the stabilisation, conservation and repair of the auditorium along with the reinstatement of the original ballroom interior and restoration of the projector room, changing rooms, stairwells and entrance hall. Other works will include the removal of several modern intrusions and all asbestos containing material, as well as the sensitive introduction of modern services and various measures to negate breakout noise. Building fabric will only be repaired where necessary to stabilise, to prevent loss or to facilitate the intended future use and the majority of sound and lighting equipment will be accommodated either high above the stage curtain or at the rear of the auditorium balcony. In order to prevent breakout noise, an acoustic deck construction will be constructed above the replacement lath and plaster ceiling and existing window openings will be made blind internally. A replica fireproof curtain will replace the original proscenium curtain and the wall paintings of industrial activities will be conserved and rehung. The ballroom will have its original interior reinstated resulting in the removal of all modern intrusions such as the suspended ceiling, bar and ticket kiosk. Asbestos wall panelling will also be removed and new boarding will be reinstated to the same pattern, but with a ventilated void to maintain the drying of the external walls behind. The sweet kiosk will also be reinstated to the original pattern and the ballroom will be serviced by a replacement bar as well as a new kitchen that will take the place of the WCs in the extension block to the side.The overall construction budget for the Phase 2 works is in the region of £2.1 million GBP. The scheme is complex both in terms of the various parties and stakeholders involved, and the sensitive approach required to undertake significant works on a building protected by statute (Grade II* listed) and treasured by the community.The Design Team is led by Alwyn Jones Architects (specialists in building conservation) and includes Cleaver and Co (Quantity Surveyors), Bradley Associates (Consulting Structural Engineers) and McCann and Partners (Building Services Engineers).The building contract will be let utilising the JCT Standard Building Contract with Quantities 2011.