WORK on the exterior of Earlestown Town Hall is set to be completed in the new year.

The restoration of the Grade II listed building formed part of St Helens Borough Council’s five-stage programme to bring one of the most iconic buildings in the borough back into use to coincide with the town centre’s regeneration plans.  

The one-million-pound capital-funded project started earlier this year, with improvements to the building’s exterior on display as scaffolding is due to come down.

These improvements include a facelift to the town hall’s four-sided clock tower, eye-catching brick repointing and repairs to original architectural terracotta, brand new windows in line with the building’s character, and repairs to the roofing, chimneys and rain gutters.  

A new box feature has also been fitted at the top of the town hall to support its original wind vane, along with significant timber treatments carried out to tackle dry rot and add stability.

ETF Systems Ltd, a Merseyside-based contractor, have overseen the works, with a local workforce and supply chains having created local apprenticeship opportunities and supporting the council’s commitment to deliver social value to ensure residents, businesses, and communities benefit from its investments.  

READ > Plans in to demolish building for flats on Cambridge Road

Councillor Richard McCauley, St Helens Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Planning, said: "It was a great experience to get a behind the scenes tour to get a closer look at the work that has been done to date to such a high standard, even stepping foot on the same stage The Beatles performed on here in 1962.  

"Earlestown Town Hall is a landmark building which is too iconic to just stand there idle, that’s why we committed to bringing it back to life, to protect our heritage and plan for an exciting future."

Councillor Seve Gomez-Aspron, deputy leader of St Helens Borough Council and a local ward councillor for Newton-le-Willows, added: "Every town and village in the borough have buildings that are key to their identity. Some in private ownership, some in council ownership – and we must always do everything we can to protect and preserve our identity and heritage.  

"It was fascinating to see how much the work has progressed at Earlestown Town Hall, as well as meet the local apprentices taken on to work on the project.  

"This has been a long-term project, in line with our ambitions as a council to bring Earlestown Town Hall back into use, it shows that we are committed to protecting and preserving our heritage.  

"I cannot wait to see the building when the scaffold comes down, and then the progress on the next steps with the repurposing refurbishment. This will allow the local community to use the building again, with groups such as NADOS hopefully coming back home to Newton-le-Willows."

External works on the town hall are expected to be completed by spring 2023, with further repurposing works planned for the next phase of the building’s restoration.