The Old School Room, Haworth
Calls Architecture are working with Brontë Spirit to restore the Old School Room in Haworth, a Grade II listed former Sunday School established by Patrick Brontë in 1832.
The building is significant as the location for Charlotte Brontë’s wedding reception in 1854, when she married Arthur Bell Nicholls. Charlotte, Branwell, Emily and Anne Brontë all taught at the school, which was extended in 1851 and then again in 1871.
Our survey work informed a programme of funding applications to help save this important community building for future generations.
Calls Architecture have provided full architect’s service for the project, including surveys, outline proposals, detailed design, working with the Local Authority Conservation Officers, Building Control applications, tendering with contractors and contract administration on site.
Phase 1 works have involved relining the valley with stainless steel to replace the decayed felt lining, bespoke duckboards to aid drainage in the snow, re-roofing the stone slate slopes, repointing in lime mortar and new aluminium rainwater goods. Essential structural repairs to the rotten timbers were carried out and ceilings have been repaired where previous leaks had caused collapse.
Phase 2 of the project has seen the repair and conservation of the roof and ceilings of the 1832 hall, completed in July 2023.
Further information on the building can be found on the Old School Room Website: www.hawortholdschoolroom.org.uk
Above: The 1832 hall before ceiling repairs and removing the cladding and paint from the original trusses.
