Restoration & Regeneration Story
We’ve completed scores of restoration tasks around this enormous building.
The grants includes £2.5m of capital funding for restoration work and improvements to the building, alongside £700,000 of additional funding. These funds include £200,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fun. These grants marked the largest single investment in the Winter Gardens for more than 100 years.
Funded by a grant from the Pilgrim Trust, a donation from His Majesty King Charles, and a crowdfunding campaign, conservation and restoration of the ceramic mosaic floor and other works in the entrance and foyer were carried out by Rieveley Ceramics.
Major work to ensure the roof is water-tight and fit for purpose. Missing plasterwork was re-cast and re-built on the front of one of the theatre Boxes.
Parts of our ornate plaster ceiling previous damaged or destroyed through rain damage were removed. Highly skilled crafts people made casts from original sections, repaired old sections and installed newly molded inserts. For the first time in 40 years, a proper heating system was also installed to the ground floor.
SPW All Access Limited, Lancaster provided specialist expert services free of charge to support the cleaning of the front of our building.
With thanks to our funders & supporters
Historic England
THE PILGRIM TRUST
theatres trust
ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND
coastal communities fund
architectual heritage fund
wickes
UK GOVERNMENT (DCMS)
Morecambe Town Council
kenn dodd charitable foundation
COMPANIES WHO HAVE SUPPORTED OUR RESTORATION
Hayles and Howe Limited of Bristol who made and installed the new ceiling panels and carried out repairs to our historic fibrous plaster ceiling in the auditorium, the horseshoe and the Grand Staircase. They also recreated the missing box front and repaired the damaged cherubs and missing head figure on the Grand Staircase.
Bay Building Services Limited of Morecambe who installed the new heating system.
Clarkson Electrical Solutions Limited of Carnforth who installed the electrical work for the new heating system.
UK Restoration Services for reinforcing corroded steelwork in the “Gods” and essential repairs to the theatre roof.
Jane Entwistle Technical Director & Conservation Accredited Engineer from Thomasons, Manchester
We would also thank the Advisory Committee for the Heating – Malcolm O’Neil, Adrian Toulmin, Paul Anderton and Tom Brown, Lancaster City Council and the Winter Gardens Restoration and Maintenance Team for supporting work and joinery.
