The splendid Old Hall in Queens' College has undergone a majestic refurbishment this year. What was one of the regions most beautiful dining rooms is now even more resplendant.
Queens’ College restores Old Hall to former glory
The awe-inspiring Old Hall at Queens’ College has undergone a complete interior renovation costing over £300,000 to restore it to its original condition. The Old Hall is one of Cambridge’s most magnificent dining halls and has for many years been a favourite business dining venue for organisations from Cambridge and overseas.
Dating back to Medieval times, the Old Hall is famous for its opulent decoration by William Morris, its minstrels’ gallery and historic portraits including those of Erasmus, Elizabeth Woodville and Sir Thomas Smith, that have looked down on diners since their donation in 1766.
The two-year restoration project was carefully undertaken to ensure that the fragile interior decoration was not damaged during the process. The project began back in 2003 when the 140-year-old tile and flagstone floor was restored. Over the years it had worn away almost beyond repair, however, new tiles were painstakingly reproduced using a handmade process by skilled craftsmen in Ironbridge Gorge, just a few miles away from the original tile-maker M Godwin of Lugwardine who made them for the Old Hall in 1861.
The second stage of the project has been to treat the timbers in the roof, touch-up and re-gild the intricate paintwork on the walls, repair some of the old plasterwork and restore the tiles surrounding the fireplace that was erected by G F Bodley in 1861 and which forms the central focus of the Old Hall.
Alan Fuller, General Manager of Catering & Conferences said of the project:
“It has been a huge undertaking but well worth the effort – the result is that it now looks absolutely stunning. We have hosted a number of very high profile events in the Old Hall since the restoration was completed this summer and many people have commented on how good it looks. If you haven’t seen it before then I would say you must come and visit and if you have - you should come again to see it in its newly restored state – it really is magnificent.”
The respendant Old Hall set for a sumptuous banquet
The Old Hall showing the Minstrel's Gallery
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