The 19th-century conservatory at Hesketh Park in Southport is set for a comprehensive repair and refurbishment after an £850,000 legacy gift from local couple Louis and Anita Marks. A planning application has been submitted to Sefton Council seeking Listed Building Consent for the work.
While the conservatory is best known for its Victorian cast-iron-and-glass profile, the submitted plans also call out masonry elements that will need careful conservation. The scope includes repairs to the brick plinth and sandstone coping, with masonry cleaning and localized repairs intended to preserve the building’s historic character and keep the structure viable for future public use.
The conservation-led program was developed after condition surveys by Ian Bright Architects and a wider consultant team. Reported defects include corrosion of cast iron and metalwork, structural deflection in roof members, failed roof connections, drainage failures, deteriorated clerestory windows, and issues in the associated boiler house. The conservatory has been closed for years due to condition and safety concerns, and the application states that continued deterioration threatens significant historic fabric.
For mason contractors and restoration crews, the plans reflect a familiar reality on heritage sites: water management drives much of the repair strategy. The proposal includes restoring historic gutters and hopper details, replacing failed drainage pipework, and restoring historic drainage chambers. On the masonry side, the planned approach includes removing biological growth, carrying out targeted brick and stone repairs, and using low-impact DOFF steam cleaning techniques.
Other work includes restoring the York stone floor and terracotta planting-bed edgings, dismantling and cataloging the glazed canopy for off-site repair, and completing masonry and chimney repairs at the boiler house, alongside timber roof repairs and updated mechanical and electrical systems.
Read the full, original article from Stand Up For Southport here.