THE organisation running Coventry’s historic Old Grammar School building has confirmed it is now structurally safe ‘in the short term’.
The building had been being blighted by issues with its roof for months.
In June, Culture Coventry, which operates the Old Grammar School and Coventry Transport Museum, said the old school had temporarily closed due to ‘unforeseen issues with the roof’.
While parts of the building have since reopened, Coventry Society member Paul Maddocks contacted the Observer expressing concerns the main hall was still closed.
CV Life’s director of operations Steve Wiles said in the short term the roof was now safe and the main hall within the Old Grammar School could be used again.
He added an initial survey had been completed on the roof, with all external loose tiles removed and a schedule of quarterly roof inspections now in place.
“A further intrusive survey has been commissioned with a structural engineer and the inspection and testing of the exposed timber roof structure, including wall plates, by a timber specialist,” said Mr Wiles.
“The findings of this survey work will outline the medium and long-term actions required for the ongoing maintenance for refurbishment of the roof.”
In April 2013, Coventry Transport Museum received a £4.6million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund with some of that cash going towards redeveloping the Grade I listed Old Grammar School building.
The 12th-century building, which stood unused for more than 30 years before the redevelopment, reopened to the public in 2015.
It is now an exhibition, event and education space for the museum.
