Rushcliffe Borough Council is delighted to be officially unveiling the renovated Bridgford Hall this week.
After a year-long £2.3 million refurbishment made possible by National Lottery players, the Grade II listed Georgian building in Bridgford Park is now open for business as an aparthotel and civil wedding ceremony venue after a year long conservation project delivered by Robert Woodhead Limited’s specialist conservation team, Woodhead Heritage.
£1.5m from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) was secured to enable the renovation of this historic building with an additional £800,000 provided by Rushcliffe Borough Council. The grant is the first completed in the East Midlands under HLF’s Heritage Enterprise programme which funds vital repairs and conservation work needed to convert derelict, vacant buildings into new, usable and sustainable spaces.
The 250 year old building has been modernised, creating seven well-appointed apartments on the first and second floors, as well as enhancing accommodation for Nottinghamshire County Council’s registration service on the ground floor.
The renovation work was carried out by Edwinstowe-based Robert Woodhead Ltd, who have installed brand new features such as a new lift shaft and entrance point for the aparthotel, whilst carefully restoring historic architectural assets such as fireplaces and window frames. Purcell Architects were the project architects.
Speaking about the project, Ros Kerslake OBE, CEO of the Heritage Lottery Fund, said:
“This is a wonderful example of the impact that a Heritage Enterprise project can have in breathing new life into an old building. We are delighted that, thanks to National Lottery players, Bridgford Hall will once again be able to play a key role in the lives of the local community, as well as boosting the local economy.”
Leader of Rushcliffe Borough Council, Councillor Simon Robinson, added: “Renovating this historic West Bridgford landmark was key to preserving the town’s heritage for the community and we’re delighted and grateful to have benefitted from the HLF’s first Heritage Enterprise grant in the region.
“We organised a range of community activities throughout the construction period to connect local residents with the history of this much loved building. The scheme has given a boost to local business by creating jobs, a quality aparthotel and a fantastic wedding venue, and has certainly secured a bright future for Bridgford Hall and the park.”
Craig Pygall, Construction Director for Robert Woodhead Ltd, said: “Restoring a building as beautiful as Bridgford Hall is a real privilege. During our time on site we have made some fantastic discoveries. From the Victorian Well we discovered early on in the build, to the original Agas, bread ovens and scullery doors, which have been preserved and now remain exposed in the new offices.
Each find is not only a beautiful addition to the finish of the restoration, they help us continue to tell the story of this building, creating pictures in our minds of how its inhabitants lived hundreds of years ago.”
Councillor John Cottee, Chair of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Community and Place Committee, said: “We are really excited that our Registration service is returning to Bridgford Hall, which is an historic building in a beautiful park location, making it perfect for weddings and other ceremonies.”
Carl Bridge, Director at Birchover Residences, who manage the aparthotel said “We are thrilled to be the custodians of this fine building. Since the very first day that we became aware of the opportunity to open our latest luxury apartment hotel at Bridgford Hall, we have been excited to be a part of this momentous project.
We have been welcomed into the local community by residents, businesses and the Council. Local residents took an active role in helping us name the suites – all of which have a deep personal connection to Bridgford Hall and the surrounding area. We are already enjoying being part of the vibrant West Bridgford community and look forward to having a key role for years to come.”