ONE of the most dramatic features of The Civic in Barnsley has been restored to its former glory.
The intricate ceiling in the Reading Room has already been completed as part of the £18 million restoration and redevelopment work inside the landmark building.
The elaborate ceiling with its detailed plasterwork will form a focal point inside the
new retail area of the iconic building, closed for many years.
Following an inspection by English Heritage, permission was granted to allow the ceiling to be temporarily removed from the site to ensure it would not be damaged as construction work took place inside.
But when it became apparent the horse hair and lime plaster materials used in the original had deteriorated badly, it was agreed a copy could be made using casts, wherever possible, of the original.
A team of specialist restoration experts was then able to reinstall the replica in exactly the same place as the original, allowing visitors to The Civic to once again enjoy the ceiling.
Civic development director Fergus Justice-Mills said: "Throughout the site many original features have been retained and, in this case, we wanted to make sure the replacement ceiling was as close to the original as possible."
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