Rossendale Council appointed Rosslee to undertake the restoration of a number of key historic buildings as part of their Bacup Townscape Heritage Initiative. This was undertaken by repairing and restoring the building fabric while replacing unsympathetic shop fronts to preserve and enhance the historic character.
The initiatives main aims and priorities were to secure a viable economic future for Bacup town centre. The Council received £1.5 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2013 for the five-year project. Regeneration to the local area included a number of key sites across St James Street and St James Square.
Works under the Bacup Townscape Heritage Initiative, which were carried out under 3 separate phases, included sympathetically upgrading the building’s façade while reinstating original architectural details.
The conservation works to the buildings allowed Rosslee operatives to utilise their heritage skills undertaking the restoration of the cast stone façades. This included stone indents, stone replacement, new stone thresholds, and was introduced to hot lime mortar pointing.
The building roofs were stripped, timbers treated and repaired, then insulated and restored by replacing old tiles with reclaimed slate. Timber battens and copper nails to match the existing materials were used along with full lead replacement and Ubiflex substitute to the rear.
Existing shopfronts were dismantled and replaced with new steel supporting beams and timber frontages, cornices, pilaster panels and decoration. Lattice shutters internally and railings fitted along with complimentary traditional colour schemes.
Works to The Real Building included the replacement of steel windows and doors, copings and projecting cills were capped with code 5 lead. Meanwhile the façade was thermatech cleaned, cracks repaired, mortar indents carried out to restore the high level detailing, indents installed and a full repoint carried out. Internal works included making good and relocating any services fixed to the façade.
Rosslee also introduced a community educational event during the Bacup Townscape Heritage Initiative. This included lectures given by Rosslee management, architects, and engineers on construction-related careers and hosted on-site workshops with local school children explaining the different elements of construction.
Project value: £1m
