New roof for World War One aircraft hangar in Hooton

Oct 24 2012 by Linda Foo Guest, Heswall News

WORK to the roof of a World War One aircraft hangar has finally finished.

Restoration work to the roof of Hangar Two at Hooton Park, Hooton, took nearly a year to complete.

The Grade II**-listed Belfast truss hangar has now been handed back to the Hooton Park Trust, which maintains them.

The trust battled for two years to secure the £275,000 funding to repair it.

The Hooton Hangars were built during the Great War with a planned lifespan of just five years, but were recommissioned for use during World War Two.

Graham Sparkes, from the trust, said: “This first real progress with the project has been a big boost to the team.

“Completed within budget, the work has completely transformed this magnificent building from a leaking damp environment to a light dry and airy building free from obstructions.”

Funding was provided from the trust’s own resources and with the help of Waste Recycling Environmental Ltd (WREN), B&Q and the previous site owner Vauxhall.

WREN is a not-for-profit business which awards grants to community projects from funds donated by Waste Recycling Group (WRG) to theŠLandfill Communities Fund.

In recognition of the achievement, the Hooton Park Trust has been commended in the prestigious English Heritage Angel Awards.

Graham added: “This is really encouraging for us.

“These awards, co-funded by English Heritage and the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, are recognised from an external panel and to be commended on our first entry underlines to us that we are moving in the right direction with the project.”

In 2010 work funded by English Heritage replaced the central valley gutter of Hanger Two.

Attention will now focus on Hangar One, which is on English Heritage’s at-risk register.

Graham said “Hangar One is in need of a lot of work.

“The elements have had time to do a lot of damage, meaning that the trusses will need much more repair work than has been seen on Hangar Two.”