Work is under way to rebuild nine chimney stacks on top of Beaumanor Hall after inspections found they were at risk of collapsing.
Leicestershire County Council said it has hired specialist builders for the £500,000 repair at the 178-year-old Grade II listed mansion in Woodhouse, near Loughborough. The chimneys were taken down last year to protect the public, and rebuilding started last month. The council said the work has eight weeks left, and the hall will stay open for weddings and school residential trips during the repairs.
Deputy council leader Kevin Crook said the problem came down to age and movement in the stacks. He said the chimneys began leaning, the structure was secured, and crews are now carrying out permanent repairs. He added that caring for historic buildings is part of the council’s responsibility to future generations.
For mason contractors, the job is a reminder that chimney work is never just “a few courses of brick.” Ryan Gibson, a building services officer for the council, said a specialist crane is needed to place stone pieces at the top of the chimneys that weigh 400 kilos. He also said crews have benefited from good weather, and that working on a building built long before modern lifting equipment adds to the challenge of getting the details right.
The repair work is happening as the council looks at the long-term finances of the Victorian country house and its surrounding estate. The council said the mansion ran at a loss of £459,000 in 2024-25 and £627,000 in 2025-26, and it is collecting public ideas for bringing in more revenue, from themed events to outdoor cinema and festivals.
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