Last updated at 16:04, Friday, 03 July 2009

ONE of south Cumbria's most reconisable landmarks is being revamped so it can be reopened to the public.
DAVID PICKTHALL speaks to the engineer in charge of the Sir John Barrow Monument restoration

HOAD TO JOY: The Sir John Barrow Monument on the Hoad in Ulverston shrouded in scaffolding

• Watch a video clip....

AN historic monument famed for looking like a giant pepperpot is almost unrecognisable as it overlooks Ulverston surrounded by scaffolding.

But the metal poles and platforms are not just part of a routine job. They have been put up so specialist engineers can carry out a £1.2m project to return the ailing Sir John Barrow Monument to its former glory – and then some.

The 100ft-high, 119-year-old monument has been closed to the public for six years, mainly because of water leakage.

But Lambert Walker, the Lancashire-based experts in historic building restoration and conservation, are solving that problem and transforming the monument into a genuine tourist attraction again.

Adrian Walker, company managing director and project site manager, said work was ahead of schedule and could be finished by Christmas, in time for a grand opening next Easter.

His team is working top to bottom, inside and out on the Hoad Hill structure, which was designed to resemble a lighthouse.

Mr Walker said: “The dome, the lantern at the top, is going to be dismantled down to what we call its cornice level. There are steel frames which have corroded and rusted, causing the stone to spall in sections.

“That’s going to rebuilt, incorporating new stainless steel bits at the top so they won’t corrode. The top of the dome is going to be clad in copper as it was originally.

“The windows that give a view of the whole area are going to be new and bronze. There’s going to be a webcam series up there and it’s going to be more user-friendly to the general public, so they can really appreciate the beauty of the monument.”

Mr Walker said cracks in the column’s exterior would be fixed and the exterior coated in weatherproof paint.

The Sir John Barrow Monument Restoration Group, which launched the revamp project four-and-a-half years ago, has been questioned over its decision to paint the monument.

But Mr Walker said: “What you’ve got to take into consideration here is where the monument is situated. The weather is penetrating inside causing it to be totally damp, and it’s not breathing because the gunite that’s been put on is so hard, and instead of the water evaporating, it’s not – it’s staying inside.

“Painting it is not going to do it any harm. It’s actually going to help.”

Mr Walker said the “majority of the tricky work” is internal. Refurbishment and re-jigging of existing handrails will be carried out. Steps will be repaired too.

He added: “A new viewing platform is going to be put in for when visitors access the tower. You’re going to have levels to stop at, to better the whole experience of it, rather than just continually walking up.

“There’s going to be decoration in the main room at the base of the monument. It’s going to have a small toilet.

“Generally, it’s to make the lighthouse and the experience of coming up here more pleasurable because in its present condition it doesn’t cater for easy access.”

The restoration has been funded by a £891,000 Heritage Lottery grant, plus lots of charitable donations. The Friends of Sir John Barrow Monument played a priceless fund-raising role.

Mr Walker said: “It was in a poor condition, but not deteriorated to a point where it couldn’t be used.

“But the thing is, maybe in 10 years’ time, it would have been a place where nobody would have been allowed to come up because of the safety aspect.” “It was starting to get into that realm where it could deteriorate faster and become a danger to the general public. But I’ve seen worse.”

Mr Walker said he believes in tendering to local firms, but stressed that in this case a specialty contractor such as Lambert Walker was required.

He thanked local firms IT Shaw (ground works) and ADW Electrical (lighting) for their involvement.

First published at 11:36, Friday, 03 July 2009
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk