A PROJECT to carry out significant repairs and consolidation works on the Grade-I listed Workington Hall has been completed.

The work to repair the East Chapel, carried out by Historic Property Restoration Ltd and Mosedale Gillatt Architects on behalf of Allerdale Borough Council, was made possible thanks to a grant of up to £150,000 from Historic England along with £50,000 from the council’s own funds.

Since 2013, the council has carried out three previous stages of work to the hall as part of its efforts to secure the building’s future.

Leader of the council, Cllr Mike Johnson, said: “We know this structure and the parklands that surround it are really important to the local community and we’ll continue to work with our partners in the steering group and explore ways we can make further improvements. I’d like to thank all those involved in the latest set of works and, in particular, Historic England for providing the majority of the funding."

The building is currently on Historic England’s ‘at risk’ register and while the latest project will make the building’s future more secure, there is still a sizeable amount of work needed to be done.

Our readers expressed their views on the matter. Anna Falcon said: “I absolutely love it as the background when Oddsocks perform in the summer. Would be even better if the shows could be inside the hall.” Judy Hodgson said: “Shame it ever got in this state.Would love it restored.” And Lucy Aiston wrote in: “Should have never been allowed to get in the state that its in now.”