PLANNING chiefs have given the go-ahead for the replacement of historic window frames and doors in one of the oldest parts of Lymm High School.
B Block is in the centre of the school site and is part of the former Oughtrington Hall, which dates from around 1810 and is a Grade 2 Listed building.
The work will involve the loss of some of the historic fabric of the building, but planners say this is outweighed by the fact that the building will be protected from further deterioration and preserved for future use.
The window frames and doors involved are believed to be more than 150 years old and passed their useful life. They will be replaced with timber, double-glazed units reflecting the character of the building.
Currently, the building is largely unaltered other than for some recent extensions at the rear.
The proposals were discussed with Warrington Borough Council’s heritage officer before being drawn up.
A report by planning officers states: “There would be a clear benefit to the replacement of the windows and doors to the Listed Buildings as it would enable the temperature of the building to be controlled and would bring the building back into a good state of repair, preventing further loss of listed fabric and slow deterioration of the building.
Built in the neoclassical architectural style, the former Oughtrington Hall, is rendered of brick with stone dressings and a slate roof. At the centre of the entrance front is a wide canted bay containing a porch with paired Tuscan columns. On each side of the porch are three-light windows under a segmental arch.
