Crumbling building in Greater Manchester park set for painstaking restoration

The dovecote building in Hulton Park, west of Bolton, is an early 19th century red brick structure with a grey slate roof and a lantern on top.

It is octagonal in shape, with a hipped roof and internal nesting boxes. A planning application has been submitted by developer Peel Land to restore the structure.

Documents in support of the proposal said the building possesses historic and architectural interest as a good example of a dovecote of the period and for its association with Hulton Hall, which was demolished in 1957. The structure is thought to have been built in the 1820s or 30s and was used to house livestock.

The planning application said the building is currently in need of repair, particularly to its walls and roof. The proposal is linked to Peel’s proposed residential led Lee Hall development of up to 1,450 homes and around 25,000 sq m of industrial and warehousing floorspace.

If approved those plans would also lead to the creation of the Park Avenue link road, which the developer says will ease pressure on the notoriously congested Chequerbent roundabout.

The dovecote restoration is part of the heritage protections linked to the Lee Hall application. Peel gave details of how the dovecote would be repaired and restored.

A heritage report, said: “Works are proposed to repair and restore the dovecote applying ‘like-for-like’ materials and techniques. Works will be undertaken to the roof, walls, door and floor.”

The application says that the roof tiles would be stripped away with each recorded for re-use before assessment of repairs needed to the roof structure. The pointing in the brickwork would be carefully raked away by hand before being 100 per cent re-pointed.

Any bricks needing to be replaced would be reclaimed from elsewhere on the estate. The heritage report, said: “BTP Architects have prepared a comprehensive condition survey and detailed drawings showing proposed works of repair and restoration to the roof, external and internal walls, door, and floor of the Dovecote.

“Sensitive works are proposed using traditional materials and methods of construction, and matching materials where required. At present the heritage asset is in a poor condition and the proposed works secure its long-term conservation and the contribution it makes to the Hulton Park.

“We conclude that the proposed works to the listed building would result in the significant enhancement of the heritage asset.”

Planners in Bolton will consider the application in the coming weeks.

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