Herefordshire County Council appointed us to carry out a structural and condition survey and report of Shirehall, Hereford. The building had suffered some recent major structural issues and our scope included; detailed structural and condition survey of the whole and specific parts of the building, structural analysis and scheme design of any necessary structural remedial repairs required, scheme design and advice on possible refurbishment and re-purposing of the building.
The building is Grade 2* listed, dating back to 1819, with mid Victorian extensions and additions and further remodelling and extension around the 1950/60’s. Originally designed by Charles Heather in the classical style, comprising of a symmetrical main frontage with the central section featuring hexastyle portico with Doric order columns supporting freeze with triglyphs and a pediment.
Originally, the principal rooms included a great hall, a grand jury room, a library and some court rooms. The building was in use, until recently, to host Crown Court hearings and as offices and a civic hub for Herefordshire Council.
Critically, our work uncovered structural failure within some of the existing principal structural members and other inherent structural defects and risks inherent in the original design. He planned comprehensive structural repair and refurbishment work will secure this important building for the future.
