Winner of the IHBC NW Conservation Award
Value: £1.5m Client: Wyre Council
Rosslee were appointed by Purcell Architects for Wyre Council to carry out the internal and external refurbishment of Fleetwood’s Grade II Listed mount public park area. This scheme had the three elements of the Gate Lodge, the Gardens and The Mount Pavilion.
The iconic Pavilion has stood on site since 1902 and takes in panoramic views across the seafront and town and holds a World War 1 Memorial Clock with its workings encased and visible on the top floor.
Works on the Pavilion included a new copper octagonal dome and minor repairs to the World War 1 Memorial Clock. The other roofs were stripped and put back along with structural, general timber and steel repairs to the building. A new timber balustrade was installed using the existing internal design as a template to cut the 240 new spindles for the external wrap around balcony. All new M+E works installed inside with a new electrical main supply to both buildings.
A major technical issue with working on the building was how to scaffold it in its entirety giving access to all areas including the central dome on the clock tower whilst having no applied scaffold load on the existing structure. This also in an area subject to very high winds over the winter period. We had a scaffold design prepared and with our own in-house scaffold team we enveloped the building (see photograph) and brought in kentledge loading at the base of the scaffold.
Internally the existing parquet flooring to first floor was restored, the area which houses the workings of the clock inside a beautiful, stained glass windowed cabinet. New tiled floor was laid on ground floor and over clad the staircase to bring it in keeping with other building finishes. We refurbished the windows and doors, and completed the scheme by fully decorating inside and out, with its newly chosen green accent colour.
Works at the Gate Lodge included stripping the roof, timber repairs and re-slating. The existing front windows were repaired and refurbished, along with new windows and doors for the rear and basement, as these had been boarded up. We excavated the side of the Lodge to expose the basement level around the outside of the building, adding the external steps. New M+E throughout, new toilet facilities added, lime plaster and pointing, new timber flooring to ground floor with flag floor to basement and again completed by fully decorating inside and out.
Garden works included removing the old playground and creating a new garden seating area called the “Button Hook”. In a different area we created the new playground and access. The “Mary Hope Garden” was completely removed and re-designed to the new layout, with seating and paths. Pathways to the rear half of the park were resurfaced with new terracotta edgings.
This contract incorporated many different trades, many of whom were specialist, but we did our own manufacturing, joinery and groundworks and also the structural repairs.