Market’s ‘lantern’ roof is undergoing major repairs
A UNIQUE part of the Town Markets, the V-shaped roof over the Coop store, is undergoing major refurbishment to repair the wood and replace the glass.
This ‘lantern’ roof looks like the upturned hull of a ship from inside the building, while outside it was covered with slates to resemble the scales of the fish that used to be sold in the old market.
It is topped by glass that was fitted into wooden frames originally made of the wood which was used in greenhouses, but some of the wood now needs replacing and the glass is being replaced at the same time.
Eventually some £50,000-worth of scaffold will be in place over this section of the building to allow contractors Rihoy & Son to carry out the work.
‘The scaffolding needed to get up there is huge,’ said Sonia Taylor, property manager for Market tenants McAulay (Market Buildings).
‘It’s not easy scaffolding to do because it can’t be supported from the inside.’
She said the total cost of the contract is £1m.
Given the nature of the businesses below when it was built, the roof was designed with ventilation in mind, but the glass being fitted now will provide better insulation.
‘It will be laminated safety glass going on, with protective aluminium battens on the top,’ said Mrs Taylor.
So far a 10m section has been worked on, but this will soon be extended and the scaffolding and canopy will extend along the entire curve of the roof.
The roof refurbishment is just one element of the work going on in the Market buildings, with builders also creating a new restaurant and bar for Alba Guernsey. Other projects were also in train, said Mrs Taylor.
‘We have some great development currently being undertaken at the Market Buildings to install accessible toilet facilities with step-free access, and to design and fit out the new Guernsey Information Centre which will increase footfall to the centre of the town, the Arcade and onwards to the Old Quarter... Other new tenancies are in lawyers’ hands.’
McAulay director Charles McHugh said the company had a responsibility to people in Guernsey and its shareholders to maintain the Market buildings as a commercial success.
‘That means we support our tenants and promote their business successes, but if occasionally a tenant is not performing under the terms of its lease, we will look to manage the situation and to maintain the highest level of vibrancy and commercial well being for the whole of the market area.
‘Town centres and retail areas are constantly changing and evolving. In order to keep up, redevelopment is inevitable and, like all building improvement work, does not come without disruption in the short term.’
