Latest News
June 2011
Main Project - Legal & Planning matters are being finalised and the paperwork for the Stage 2 Lottery bid is being prepared for submission.
Potting Sheds Project - The Pre-Application for HLF Funding for the Potting Sheds Project was submitted in April and HLF have confirmed that a full application should be made. The Plans for this project are currently being finalised.
Watch out for “Restoration House” on BBC2 – Bank Hall will feature on it at the beginning of the program
The Bunny Raffle on our Easter Sunday Open Day was won by Mrs. Croskell of Tarleton. The Bunny is going to live with her Nephew "Archie" - Well Done.
**NEW** Spring News Sheet 2011
Planning Decision - 8th February 2011
Chorley Borough Council have unanimously approved the Planning Applications for the Restoration of the Hall and internal conversion as per the plans submitted along with the required enabling development.
Endemol Film at Bank Hall - The Company who produced the Restoration series returned to Bank Hall early in January 2011 to film for a new series "Restoration Home" which goes out on BBC2 in April. Of all the historic buildings featured on Restoration, Bank Hall was chosen as the backdrop for the program introduction and features the actress "Caroline Quentin".
Latest Newsletter Winter 2010
Main Project - The final outstanding matters have now been dealt with but were too late for the December Meeting. It is now confirmed that it is proposed that the Planning Committee will consider the planning application at their February Meeting.
Clock Project - The Georgian Society have agreed in principle to award a Grant to us in the sum of £1,000 for the restoration of the Clock faces. This Grant will form part of our “Moment in Time” Appeal. Lionel Taylor who promoted this Appeal and applied for this Grant states that he is very grateful to The Georgian Society as it was their interest in the main project and the possibility of a Grant for some specific part of it that stimulated this Appeal. It is now essential that we sell more “Moments in Time” to generate sufficient funds for this specific and particular aspect of the restoration of the Hall. See Below for more information on this Appeal.Main Project – Once again we have experienced delays concerning the planning decision. As has been mentioned in our News Sheets, this is a very complex project. The recent delays are because of an additional reports that was required and although we were given a revised determination date in November, it has been moved to mid-December. (November 2010)
Potting Shed Project – This additional project concerns the development of the Potting Sheds on the outside of the Walled Garden. Background work is being carried out on this project and we hope to have some news on this shortly. (November 2010)
Grounds – A substantial amount of work has been carried out in the Grounds and this continues. Visitors will see a difference. We are desperate for more help to assist with this work. Volunteers should initially contact our Secretary, Lionel Taylor, at his email address – secretary.bhag@hotmail.co.uk for details of the help that is needed.
Latest Autumn 2010 News Sheet
Download here
Main Project – As previously noted the formal Planning Application for the restoration of the Hall, its development and the necessary enabling development was submitted to Chorley Borough Council on the 18th December. The application has been on their website for some time and we are now expecting the result of the application around the end of July. Further news on this will follow when known.
Million Pennies Appeal – This fund raising Appeal has now been closed. This Appeal was launched by John Howard a number of years ago and has raised the sum of £877.54. It was agreed that this money would be put towards display costs when the Hall is eventually restored. Thanks to John for organising this Appeal and thanks to all those who have supported it.
The Moment in Time – Clock Project Appeal – Following features in the press in the West Lancashire area in April this fund raising Appeal was boosted by £140. The total raised so far is £1,610. The Group is very grateful to all those who have subscribed to date. Under the scheme a “Moment in Time” can be purchased for £5 for which a certificate is given and an entry in a register for the scheme. £250 will sponsor a set of Roman Numerals on the Clock face. Forms can be sent via email by contacting: secretary.bhag@hotmail.co.uk. or can be downloaded from this site – See Below.
20th December 2009
We are pleased to announce that the formal Planning Application for the restoration of the Hall, its development and the necessary enabling development was submitted to Chorley Borough Council on the 18th December. The Application will be registered after one month and then a consultation period follows.
Download the Latest Tower News (Autumn 2009)
IMPORTANT NEWS!!!
We are pleased to announce that Heritage Trust for the North West have now signed an Agreement for Lease with the Lilford Estate. This major step forward in the process of saving Bank Hall now means that we can now work towards submitting a comprehensive planning application.
Bank Hall Action Group - Easter 2009
**Moment in Time**
Download our booklet for details
The sponsorship Form can be downloaded here
*NEW EDITION* Download a copy of the Bank Hall Action Group Record Book here
Download the latest edition of Tower Times here
A £1.5m bid has been submitted to the Heritage
Lottery Fund on the back of a wave of support for Bank Hall's restoration.
Campaigners are optimistic that funds to rebuild the hall, at Bretheton,
near Chorley, to its former glory will be made available after collecting
a massive 40,000 votes in the recent BBC TV series Restoration.
About 6,000 people from all over Britain, and from abroad, have also visited
the hall in the past 12 months and supported a series of events and open
days.
Bank Hall chairperson Janet Edwards told the TV company, who are making
a follow-up programme to the Restoration series, that this may be Bank
Hall's last chance of major restoration.
Sadly, however, Autism Initiatives, who were planning to turn the hall
into an adult residential college, have withdrawn from the project. The
charity needs new accommodation urgently and has left the partnership with
regret. Bank Hall Action group wishes them all the best in their future
operations.
The second Lottery Bid has been submitted by Heritage Trust for the North
West along with a new £10,000 feasibility study by Bristol-based
architects Niall Phillips. Bank Hall Action Group has contributed £2,000
to the study.
While the architects suggest the most viable end use for the restored building
would be private housing, the Action Group is still open minded about a
worthwhile end user.
The Lottery Bid was submitted following a meeting of interested parties:
the Heritage Trust for the North West, owners the Lord Lilford Trust, Bank
Hall Action Group and Chorley Borough Council The total cost of restoring
the shell of the hall will be approximately £3m.
Anyone planning to
refurbish the hall will therefore need significant funds but approaches are
welcome.
 |
 |
||||
|
 |
 |
|||
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
||
2002 was a busy and eventful time at Bank Hall.
Following seven years of campaigning to save the hall we finally saw the first phase of structural work to arrest the deterioration of the building. £50,000 has been spent on essential repair work and strengthening of the prospect tower.
Stainless steel anchors and steel frames now pin and hold the walls together, hopefully preventing further widening of the cracks that run down the west wall.
The cracking and bulging wall at the base of the tower on its northwest corner has been dismantled and rebuilt.
The tower has once again got a roof. This is a temporary wooden structure at the height of the clock-room floor. This means that rain water is now prevented from falling into the tower and is drained off via a pipe. Dangerous cracked brickwork inside the tower has been removed, avoiding further collapse and lightening the weight on the weakened top section of the tower.
Some doors and windows have been temporarily bricked up to strengthen the structure until full restoration work can be carried out.
Rubble and timbers, which had fallen onto the 17th century staircase, have been removed during the repair work, although a great deal of rubble still remains at the bottom of the staircase.
The tower repair work was funded by English Heritage, The Lilford Trust, Heritage Trust for the North West and the Bank Hall Action Group.
Not surprisingly the work went over budget as unforeseen complications inevitably arise with this kind of project. This meant that one part of the work could not be completed. It had been planned to rebuild the northeast corner of the tower (which collapsed over 20 years ago) up to the height of the temporary roof. This had been only partly achieved. Proceeds from Bank Hall events to be held in 2003 will go towards completing this part of the tower work.
I would like to thank everyone who has supported the Bank Hall Action Group over the last year, indeed over the past seven years.
We are grateful and much encouraged by your support. We hope that you have enjoyed your visits to the hall and the events held there. Thank you for your good wishes, your letters of encouragement and your donations to the concept of a restored Bank Hall.
The events at the hall are going from strength to strength. We now have a calendar reflecting the spirit of the seasons from snowdrop Sundays in February through to the popular pre Halloween event in October.
New events currently under construction for 2003 include a horse-shoeing contest and a party for spring, both planned for April.
Saturday 1st June 2002 was a magical evening. Will Shakespeare visited Bank Hall in the shape of Illyria who performed ‘as you like it’ in perfect conditions. Illyria will be visiting the hall again in 2003 with ‘The Merchant of Venice’ on Saturday 31st May.
Please watch the website for a full list of events which will be updated as things are confirmed and finalised. Thanks once again for your support, all the best for 2003. See you at Bank Hall.
Yours sincerely
Geoff Coxhead, Chairman, Bank Hall Action Group
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
||||||||||
 |
 |
|
|||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||
 |
 |
|
|||||||||
 |
 |
|
|||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||