After Wythenshawe Hall was forced to close due to an arson attack in 2016, the building has undergone extensive refurbishment works of over £6.7 million to consolidate the damage and have enhanced security upgrades to protect it from further damage. However, this month the magnificent Grade II listed hall can be enjoyed by the public once again as the building has been restored to its former glory.
Wythenshawe Hall was the home of the Tatton family for over 600 years, and is now owned by Manchester City Council. The Hall, and the surrounding 250 acres of park land, were given to the city by Lord and Lady Simon in 1926, to be enjoyed by the people of Manchester and beyond. The Hall served as an art gallery and museum until its temporary closure in 2010.
On Saturday 10th September, Friends of Wythenshawe Hall will celebrate our 10th anniversary and in conjunction with Manchester City Council, the hall will be open to the public for the weekend. The opening ceremony will occur at 11am when Deputy Lord Mayor of Manchester Yasmine Darwill cut the ribbon.
Wythenshawe Hall will be open to the public between 12 noon and 5 pm on September 10 and 11, allowing visitors to view the marvellous restoration work for around one hour. Friends of Wythenshawe Hall have set up a booking system in order to book a time slot, which can be accessed via the QR code on their website or by searching for Friends of Wythenshawe Hall directly on Eventbrite. Friends of Wythenshawe Hall plan to open the hall monthly as they did before the fire, so if you cannot attend the opening weekend, there’s plenty of opportunities to visit.
As part of the restoration works, the entire roof of the hall has been replaced and reroofed. The Main Hall has been rejuvenated with the ceiling and timber panelling have been delicately cleaned and repaired to ensure the unique and historic designs were protected. The timeless stained-glass windows have been replaced and the artistry has been mimicked to best represent the original windows on the building.
The restoration of the building won a Civic Trust Architects Accredited in Building Conservation (AABC) Award in 2021. Find out more about Wythenshawe Hall here.