A MAJOR project to restore the exterior of a historic 16th century building in the heart of Worcester has begun.
The Grade II listed Queen Elizabeth House in Trinity Street, which was built in the 1570s, will be getting a £15,000 face-lift to restore the building’s distinctive Tudor appearance.
Work began on Monday (March 13) to repair and decorate the dreary exterior and is due to take about five weeks to complete.
The building is being restored by Worcester City Council in order to protect the city’s heritage, with the Trinity Street building being a key part of Worcester’s history.
It was named after Queen Elizabeth I following her visit to the city in 1575 where she is believed to have gone up to its gallery to watch a pageant and speak to the public.
At that time it was within the grounds of the medieval Trinity Hospital, but by the 1890s it found itself in the path of a major road widening scheme.
However, in order to save the building, the City Council took the unusual step of using greased railway tracks to physically move the building 30 ft across the road.
Coun Roger Berry, cabinet member for Housing and Heritage, said: “I am very pleased to be announcing the restoration of Queen Elizabeth House as we work to ensure Worcester is a heritage city for the 21st century.
“The many historic buildings across our city centre play a major part in Worcester’s unique and appealing environment and it will be good to see Queen Elizabeth House once again looking its best when this work is completed.”
The new work on the building will include fixing loose areas of render and repairs to the timber farming. It will also be painted in the original Tudor style, with dark brown timbers and off-white panels.
Restoration work is being carried out within the strict guidelines for listed buildings.
The scaffolding around the building will be free-standing and not attached to the walls.
Footpaths alongside the building on Trinity Street and The Trinity will remain open.
Coun Lucy Hodgson, the council’s Heritage Champion, added: “Queen Elizabeth House has a fascinating history, but it has not been looking its best for some time.
“Its great news that this work is going ahead and that this important building will once again be a striking sight for visitors and residents to enjoy in our city centre.”
