SIGNIFICANT conservation work to the Market Cross, in Barnard Castle, is starting.
Last year, a condition survey on the grade 1-listed building was carried out using funding from Durham County Council, Teesdale Area Action Partnership and Barnard Castle Town Council.
This found that although the building was in reasonable condition for its age, repairs and renovations should be made to ensure it remains structurally sound and to prevent any further damage.
Lewis Surveying Associates has now been appointed as project manager, while Barnard Castle stonemason firm Glasper Tunstall will undertake the repairs which
include roof works, improvements to the windows and timber and joinery works.
Floor repairs and redecoration of the weather vane will also be carried out.
It is expected that equipment will be moved on to the site on Thursday, March 29, and three-way lights put into place for three hours on Saturday, March 31.
On Thursday, April 5, three-way lights will again be in place for six days and then again for another five days when the scaffold comes down.The works should take eight weeks to complete. Cllr Carl Marshall, cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: “The Market Cross is an iconic structure within both Barnard Castle and the wider county and it is important we carry out these vital works to keep it safe for the future.
“We know there may be some slight disruption to journeys while these improvements are taking place and we would like to thank motorists for their patience while these are carried out.”
