Strelley Hall Restoration Project
A detailed and challenging cast iron fireplace restoration project carried out at the historic Strelley Hall Business Centre.
The fireplace, located in the Castle Room at Strelley Hall — a beautiful period building in the village of Strelley, Nottingham — had suffered from significant delamination and age-related deterioration.
The original surround was crafted from a local stone containing fossilised inclusions. Over time the stone had become dull, and no amount of cleaning or polishing could revive its natural finish. Several replacement sections had also been added over the last couple of centuries, leading to an inconsistent look that no longer matched the character of the fireplace.
After carefully evaluating the condition and historic value, the decision was made to repair and unify the entire fireplace using a heat-resistant satin black finish. Crucially, we preserved the two original hand-painted terracotta tablets at the top of each leg — a standout feature and an excellent decision by Strelley Hall’s management.
The cast iron hob grate interior required complete reconstruction. The original firebox and grate had deteriorated beyond repair due to prolonged heat exposure. Our team stripped the unit back to its bare framework, rebuilt the interior, reinforced all structural sections, and refinished the cast iron.
The stone side cheeks above the hob grate were removed, reused and resprayed before refitting. Once reassembled, the entire fireplace presented a stunning, unified appearance. The satin black finish restored its stately presence, while the terracotta tablets added a striking contrast and authentic period character.
Strelley Hall were delighted with the final result. The Castle Room can now be used for meetings as originally intended, with the restored, fully functioning fireplace once again serving as the dramatic centrepiece of the space.
To see more of our work, visit our fireplace restoration page. You can also learn more about the venue at the Strelley Hall website.