Swan Hall Restoration

Following a fire in 1998, extensive repairs were needed to save the building. As well as the fire, it had suffered severe decay and loss of original fabric from alterations over many years and was nearing a state of collapse.

Despite its condition, enough evidence survived to show that this had once been an important medieval building. It was decided, therefore, that the building should be restored to its original medieval appearance, as far as this could be determined, and not to its Victorian appearance immediately prior to the fire. It was possible to determine much of its original design by examining joints in the timbers and surviving fragments of timber detailing and by carrying out archaeological investigation. Ongoing documentary research aims to unravel more of the buildings history.