Durham Town Hall is to close from this Saturday, and won't open until the spring or summer of 2025(Image: www.wildstock.co.uk)

Durham Town Hall is to close from this weekend for restoration works

by · ChronicleLive

A Grade II listed building in the heart of Durham City will close from this weekend for restoration works.

Durham County Council will be carrying out essential repairs to Durham Town Hall to restore and preserve the building, as well as the artefacts within it.

Working with specialist heritage consultants and contractors, the restoration includes lime render to internal walls, improved drainage capacities, and modifications and repairs to the roof.

It will also include a restoration of the Great Hall floor, returning it to the finish it had when the Great Hall first opened in 1851.

The closure of the town hall will also allow for artefacts to be restored(Image: www.wildstock.co.uk)

The town hall will close from Saturday, November 23, and is expected to open between the spring and summer of next year.

Cllr Elizabeth Scott, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: "Durham Town Hall is an iconic building which has been the centre of Durham’s economic and civic life since the 14th Century. In order to preserve this building for centuries more, we will be working with specialists to carry out essential restoration works of both the building and the important historical artefacts inside.

"We will also be using this as an opportunity to refresh the building with some new materials and features so that it can continue to be enjoyed for generations to come."

Durham Town Hall remains the official office of the Mayor of Durham and the Mayoral Bodyguard. It is also home to the Durham City Freemen and Guilds, an organisation dating back more than 500 years.

The closure will allow for a restoration of the Great Hall floor, returning it to the finish it had when the Great Hall first opened in 1851(Image: www.wildstock.co.uk)

Garry Dunnill, chairman of the Durham City Freeman, added: "This is an opportunity not just to repair this magnificent building, steeped in civic pride and the history of local democracy, but to also professionally conserve and reassess the building’s historical artefacts."

Join our Breaking News and Top Stories WhatsApp community

Join our Breaking News and Top Stories WhatsApp community for all the latest news direct to your phone.

To join you need to have WhatsApp on your device. All you need to do is choose which community you want to join, click on the link and press 'join community'.

No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the ChronicleLive team.

We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.

If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.

If you’re curious, you can read our privacy notice.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN