Repairs approved for Whitby Old Town Hall restoration
Specialist work to the sandstone columns of the grade two-listed building have been greenlit following a structural survey that identified sections of the historic masonry as being in ‘critical condition’.
The works form part of a wider £1.2m restoration project that will transform the 18th-century landmark into a heritage and community venue as part of the town’s regeneration programme.
Commissioned by North Yorkshire Council, the condition survey found that three of the building’s 16 sandstone columns require urgent structural intervention, while the remaining columns need either significant or moderate conservation works.
Planning documents state that some of the deterioration has been caused by inappropriate historic repairs, which have contributed to cracking, surface erosion and delamination of the stone.
The approved scheme has been backed by Historic England and will involve replacing only damaged sections of the columns using carefully selected natural sandstone matched to the original material in colour, texture, durability, and weathering characteristics.
Renovation work on the building began in 2025 and forms part of a wider £1.2m scheme funded through a £17.1m Towns Fund allocation awarded to Whitby by the government, in partnership with North Yorkshire Council.
Align Property Partners, the council’s building design consultancy, is leading on the project design.
Currently, an outdoor market takes place in the undercroft of the building but due to poor conditions the indoor space hasn’t been used since 2017.
Once complete, the building will provide a heritage attraction showcasing the history of the town hall, Whitby’s marketplace and the wider town, while also offering flexible space for community events, cultural activities and small businesses.
North Yorkshire Council said the project is intended to increase town centre footfall, support the local economy, and secure the long-term future of one of Whitby’s most significant historic buildings.
