A firm of architects has announced that refurbishment work on a historic hall at a renowned public school in Derbyshire is set to start.
Franklin Ellis Architects was appointed by Repton School to make its Grade II-listed Pears School Hall more suitable for a wider range of uses - while enhancing many of its impressive original features.
An independent school, Repton was founded in 1557 and today houses 640 pupils aged 13 to 18 years old and comprises of ten boarding houses.
Pears School Hall was originally built in 1886 within the ruins of an Augustinian priory to commemorate the school’s second founder, Steuart Adolphus Pears.
The refurbishment targets the later additions to the building from the 1950s and includes replacing and extending the balcony, replacing and repositioning the hall staircase, removing the permanent stage and replacing the outdated kitchen facilities.
The installation of a lift will also give disabled and catering access to the main hall, which will allow it to be used for a variety of events.
One of the hall’s most notable original features is its hammer beam truss roof and the oak panelling that lines the hall, which has been decorated with hand painted school honours.
Parts of the Augustinian Priory ruins also remain, such as the column bases, and are visible both outside and inside the lower ground floor of the building.
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The first phase of works involved installing new lighting, which will provide the school hall with independently controlled lighting for the variety of uses such as during school exams and up-lighting to showcase the roof structure.
As well as exams, the hall will be used for assemblies, teaching, performances and other events and will also be available for private hire once works are complete.
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Jon Crabb, associate partner at Franklin Ellis Architects, which has offices in Nottingham and Leicester, said: “Repton School has a rich and long history and Pears School Hall is an intrinsic part of the school heritage.
“It is a beautiful building that deserves modernisation bringing it in line with the other fantastic buildings and facilities at the school.
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“We’re very pleased that works are starting imminently with the lighting making an immediate and vital change to the experience of the building. We look forward to seeing the site progress.”
Mark Semmence, headmaster at Repton School, said: “We’re delighted to see works starting on Pears School Hall.
“The building is very significant to the school and it will be wonderful to see it thoughtfully refreshed with the addition of modern facilities.”