A £1.2 million renovation project has been given the green light to repair the critical condition of the 16 sandstone columns supporting Whitby's historic Old Town Hall.
Repairs to fix the ‘critical condition’ of an historic North Yorkshire town hall have been given the go-ahead.
The 16 sandstone columns supporting Whitby’s 18th-century Old Town Hall are set to be repaired after an assessment found they are partially in a “critical condition” and require repairs to maintain their integrity.
The Grade II* listed building is currently undergoing a £1.2 million renovation project, funded by the government and North Yorkshire Council, to turn the site into a “vibrant heritage venue”.
A specialist survey commissioned by the council found that three columns are in a “critical condition” and require structural dowel stitching to ensure their integrity, while the remaining columns require either significant or moderate works.
According to a planning report, the columns have suffered from inappropriate repairs in the past, which resulted in certain areas having visible cracks, surface erosion and delamination.
Historic England said it fully supported the application.
All the stone used for the repair work will be “carefully selected natural sandstone to match the existing as closely as practicable in colour, texture, bedding orientation, durability, porosity, and weathering characteristics”.
Submitted plans state that the repairs will be “limited to those areas identified as cracked, delaminated, hollow sounding, eroded, or otherwise structurally compromised”.
The plans add:
“No general opening-up of the columns shall be undertaken, as intrusive exposure of defective zones may cause further damage to fragile historic sandstone.”
Once completed, the space will celebrate the rich history of the building, the market place, and the wider story of Whitby, creating an engaging destination for residents and visitors alike.
The project aims to revitalise the town centre by creating an “attractive, multi-functional space that increases footfall and strengthens the local economy”.
The council said that by introducing flexible uses to the Old Town Hall, such as community events, cultural programming, and small business opportunities, it supports the goal of resilient high streets and supports local enterprise.
Work to renovate the building began in 2025 and is being funded from a £17.1 million grant awarded to Whitby as part of the government’s Towns Fund.
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