Workers on the project to repair and restore the Grade I-listed Manchester Town Hall will be raising the roof this week as it reaches a major milestone.
The enormous temporary covering which has kept the building watertight while extensive work has taken place to its Victorian roof will be removed in sections by a 300-tonne crane.
It means that the roofline, which has been concealed beneath the temporary roof since spring 2022 will be visible again for the first time in more than three years.
With the building’s restored 280-ft clock tower having been uncovered last year, a significant part of the repaired and restored building will have emerged from beneath the scaffolding and sheeting.
Deputy Leader Councillor Garry Bridges said: “Manchester is getting this beloved landmark back, in magnificent shape. Our once-in-a-century project to repair and restore the town hall is safeguarding it for future generations.
“It is painstaking, complicated and challenging work but it’s a nationally important heritage building and there are no short cuts.
“We’re looking forward to reaching the point where we can welcome people inside again, with greater opportunities to experience its architecture and artefacts. In the meantime, it’s great that people can see more of the progress which is being made.”
The removal of the first half of the temporary roof is scheduled, weather permitting, to begin on Tuesday 9 September with the second half to be removed later in the month.
Although the newly-revealed section of the building will initially be coated in several years’ worth of accumulated dust, a few rain showers should see it back to its best.
