Roof of historic Warrington pub is “beyond repair”

AN examination of the roof of a historic Warrington pub has revealed that it is beyond repair.

As a result, planning chiefs are to be asked to approve a replacement roof at the picturesque Grade 2 Listed Cheshire Cheese pub in Knutsford Road, Latchford.

The pub, believed to date from the late 18th century, originally had five chimney stacks but these were removed without planning consent in 2021.

Last year, planners ruled that the stacks be replaced – and granted permission for the work to be carried out.
But when a roofing contractor visited the site in January this year, he discovered the roof, as a whole, was beyond repair due to the extent of slipped slates following the deterioration of battens. Attempts have been made to carry out repairs to leaks that have developed but the general condition is poor and the leaks are becoming a bigger issue, with water ingress threatening the overall structure, planners have been told.
The plan now is for a full overhaul of the roof, to be carried out alongside the rebuilding of the five chimney stacks. All slates and battens will be removed to expose the roof structure. Rotted timber will be removed and replaced.

The slate roof will be reinstated over a breathable membrane and new, treated battens and new leadworks will be installed.
The new stacks will be built in red, hand-made bricks and will replicate as far as possible the five which were removed, in line with the planning consent granted last year.
It is believed replacing the five chimney stacks will help restore the character of the building, which has suffered some visual harm as a result of the loss of the original stacks.
Warrington Borough Council Planning chiefs are now considering the re-roofing proposals