The scaffolding is down at Bramall Hall after 21 months of work on its stone roof, paid for by a £1.6m grant. A second phase of work follows next year.

The scaffolding has come down at Bramall Hall. The restoration of the hall’s historic roof is finished, Stockport Council said on Thursday (Stockport Council).

The specialist conservation work began in February 2025. It is meant to protect the Grade I listed building for future generations.

What was done

The council says the work included:

  • repairing and keeping the original stone roof tiles wherever possible
  • using carefully matched salvaged tiles where replacements were needed
  • new ridge tiles and replacement finials
  • an improved rainwater system, to keep the building weather-tight
  • restoring the hall’s bellcote and bell, which have been lifted back onto the roof

The bell’s return was one of the most visible moments of the job, the council said.

Who paid for it

The money came from the Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND), a Department for Culture, Media and Sport fund run by Arts Council England. The council’s Bramall Hall page puts the grant at £1.6 million, for the failing roof and the rainwater system. It says the repairs will protect the hall and its collections from further damage by water leaks (Stockport Council).

The bats came back

The hall has resident bat colonies, including pipistrelles and brown long-eared bats. The council says the whole restoration was planned around them. When the attic was cleared for the work, the bats returned on schedule, which it calls “a reassuring sign” that the hall still suits them.

What is still to come

Not everything is finished. Some of the hall’s wall paintings, which the council describes as internationally significant, will stay behind conservation tissue. That is because preparations are starting for a second phase of MEND-funded work next year. The council has not yet said what that phase covers or when it starts.

Councillor Dan Oliver, the council’s cabinet member for communities, culture and public protection, said: “A huge amount of care and craftsmanship has gone into protecting the Hall for the future while preserving its historic character.”

What it means for you

  • The hall is open for Christmas. This year’s decorations are themed on seasonal music and songs, with displays by volunteer floral designers from groups across the borough.
  • There is more for families. A Christmas Elf Trail runs, and Father Christmas visits.
  • Plan ahead. Dates, prices and opening hours are on our Bramall Hall Christmas page. The hall sometimes closes for weddings, so the council asks visitors to call 0161 474 2020 before travelling.
  • Expect some covered walls. The protected wall paintings will stay under tissue until the next phase.

For other days out, see things to do in Stockport.

Sources