The 120ft Hartlepool Art Gallery clock tower will reopen thanks to a £300k grant for vital repairs after closing in 2018.
Hartlepool Council is one of four winners residing in the North East region. The Art Gallery tower needs some important work as it is a local landmark.
The tower was built back in 1854. This Grade II listed building was once Christ Church and became an art gallery in the 1990s. This 120ft tower closed in 2018 because the needed fixes were too costly back then.
Stonework, roof, and windows will be repaired, and they will also be fixing the external platform. Electrical safety systems are getting upgrades too; this investment helps the Art Gallery’s growth.
Pamela Hargreaves, who chairs the Economic Growth Committee, is happy about the funding. She said it supports Hartlepool’s regeneration, as the tower is key to the town’s heritage. These vital repairs make reopening possible.
People can enjoy great views from the top again, and will find the bells and clock fascinating. People can connect regeneration projects visually, including Wesley Chapel and the Waterfront.
Repair plans will be detailed this spring, requiring building permissions first. Work should finish by the end of next year, which will restore a much-loved landmark.