Restoration of the Schools' Resource Centre

A section of this building, with the polychrome stonework, was part of the weighbridge that weighed the carts of coal brought to the site to feed the boilers. The weighing scales was located just inside the building and still survives, while the weighbridge itself was directly to the front of the building. The area attached to the weighbridge house was originally a single storey store, but was later altered and extended in height and used as a workshop. Here, parts required for the steam plant could be made and repaired on site. A cast iron crane marked with the words ‘By Her Majesty’s Royal Letters Patent’ remains in situ.

This building now houses the Schools’ Resource Centre, with the main classroom area located in the former workshop. The building is built into the bank behind and had serious water ingress problems prior to conservation work commencing. A waterproofing membrane was used behind a dry lined wall in order to make this area suitable for its new use as a classroom/seminar room. The existing louvred ventilated roof light was repaired and is now in working order, allowing controllable natural ventilation and light to the area. The roofs were re-slated and insulated but all trusses and principal timbers were retained. The existing cementitious render was removed from the exterior of the building and replaced with a lime plaster that allows the walls to ‘breathe’ and dry out. All window openings to the ground floor of this building had been blocked up; these were re-opened and large modern windows inserted to allow maximum light to the interior.