The
owner of Firbeck Hall has reassured local campaigners that plans for
the development of the historic building will be unveiled in the coming
months.
In
response to questions from the Friends of Firbeck Hall, owner Jason
Cooper said that formal plans would be available for the public to view
later this year and that he was keen to get the development ‘right first
time’.
He
also confirmed that, despite ‘economic challenges’, the planning
application for the 16th Century building was at an advanced stage and
that representatives from the development groups would meet with the
Friends of Firbeck to display the facts.
He
said: “When I was involved with the refurbishment of Loversall Hall,
the cost was far more than it should have been simply because we did a
lot of the work on a piecemeal basis. This was a mistake.”
“So with Firbeck, particularly in these much tougher times, we must do it right first time.”
“We
have taken the view not to do any work to the hall or it’s grounds,
unless it is essential, until we get the relevant planning permissions
in place to do so, and this is exactly what we are doing.”
He
said that although no major amount has been spent on the hall or the
grounds so far, ‘considerable sums’ have been spent to ensure the
planning application is at an advanced stage.
He
continued: “Our team are working closely with Rotherham Council to
ensure that the project we propose, is a sympathetic and practical
restoration of Firbeck Hall, while also acceptable to the people of
Firbeck.”
Mr Cooper also confirmed that work on West Lodge would start soon.
He
added: “I am meeting the company that I hope will be making the gates
to finalise the design and as part of the West Lodge refurbishment.”
“We shall also tidy up the whole entrance and provide a much more presentable gateway to the village of Firbeck.”
Firbeck
Hall was built back in 1594 by William West and was formerly the home
of 19th Century architect and writer Henry Gally Knight.
In
1935 the hall was opened as a country club. At the outbreak of the
Second World War, the hall was used by Sheffield Royal Infirmary and the
Royal Air Force, with the adjacent aerodrome becoming RAF Firbeck.
After
the war, the building was bought by the Miners’ Welfare Commission for
use as a rehabilitation centre for injured miners, which closed in 1984.
It was purchased by Cambridge Construction and the hall fell into a state of disrepair.
Jason
Cooper bought the hall and its grounds in July 2010. Mr Cooper has a
history of restoring country homes in the Yorkshire area, and led the
renovation of Loversall Hall in Doncaster in 1998.
The Friends of Firbeck will hold their next general meeting in the coming weeks.
From: http://www.worksopguardian.co.uk/news/local-news/plans-for-firbeck-hall-will-be-revealed-soon-1-5307228
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