15,000 Welsh Roofing Slates Restores Chester's Civic Heritage

 Work is now well underway to restore the roof of the Grade 1 listed Chester Town Hall to its former glory, with 15,000 new roofing slates from Welsh//Slate’s Penrhyn quarry being used to replace the original Welsh//Slate roof.

Main contractor, Anglesey-based Greenough & Sons Roofing, is responsible for the £1 million contract to refurbish the slate roof with a like-for-like replacement of the original, along with other external works, including masonry and window repairs. Heather Blue slate from Penrhyn Quarry will be used to re-roof 75% of the roof at the rear of the town hall, in keeping with the building’s original roof, completed in 1869.  The remaining 25% of the roof will be completed using green-coloured Burlington slate from Cumbria.

This is the first time in around 70 years that the roof has been refurbished, a testament to the longevity and durability of Welsh slate.  The roof itself is a complicated structure with numerous curves and mitred hips so the Greenough team will hand dress some of the 15,000 20x12 Penrhyn slates supplied by Welsh//Slate  on site.

“This is a prestigious contract,” comments Danny Greenough from Greenough & Sons, “and, as a Welsh company, we are delighted to be bringing the best of Welsh building materials over the border to restore the roof of this historic building.”

Work began on the refurbishment in mid June and Greenough has had a ten-man roofing team on site ever since in anticipation of project completion by mid March 2009.  The building will remain operational for the town hall’s administrative staff throughout the works, though its use as a venue for weddings and functions has been suspended until the works are completed.