Next phase of Town Markets roof repairs is to start soon
Work to repair the roof of the Town Markets building has made good progress and the next phase is due to start soon.
The V-shaped ‘lantern’ roof is having all of its glass replaced and the wooden frame repaired and enhanced with a hard coating.
Contractors JW Rihoy and Son started work in December and are nearly at the end of the first 20m section which runs parallel with Fountain Street.
This area was covered with a canopy while the work was undertaken and the next phase will be for the remainder of the roof to be canopied, all the way across to Market Street.
Fountain Street will need to be closed for the scaffolding to be erected but this will be done outside of working hours.
Architects TDA is overseeing the project and associate director Stuart Bloese said preservation had been the goal.
‘It was finding an effective solution to preserve the heritage as well as reducing the maintenance and the need for painting,’ he said.
Most of the existing timber was in good condition so could be kept while each of the replacement windows comprise two sheets of 4mm toughened and laminated glass with a film sandwiched between them.
A lot of Town buildings had well-preserved timbers, said Nic Joyce, conservation and design officer at the planning service.
‘You can find timber that’s 500 years old in Town. It was made to last.
‘This is one of the most important protected buildings in Town.’
Mr Bloese said the work should be completed later in the year.
McAulay director Charles McHugh said the work was progressing well.
‘The need to preserve the buildings heritage involves highly skilled work from local tradesmen who have been engaged by JW Rihoy and Son,’ he said.
‘McAulay is pleased to be carefully discharging its responsibility for the preservation of this island’s important building.’
