Grassington Devonshire Institute - Octagon Roof Project

This project is to replace the damaged roof over the theatre space at Grassington Devonshire Institute.

The building has grown over the centuries from the earliest section completed in 1830 to the newest section at the millennium which includes the octagon shaped theatre. It was specifically built to allow raised seating in the round which allows for plays, live streamed opera and ballet, the community cinema meets here, panoramic windows with Dales views make it a great place for yoga and tai chi etc. Sudden damage to the roof means that this winter the water is very likely to penetrate the ceiling and its lighting etc. and the whole facility will need to be closed which will be a great loss to the local and wider community up the Dale who use the space.

Specifically the project to replace a damaged roof over the theatre will:
• To remove the existing poor quality Spanish tiles which are failing and not up to the Yorkshire weather and replace them with reclaimed Welsh slate which will match the rest of the older building. Environmentally using reclaimed slate is the best option.
• To remove all lathes and existing felt to replace and add more insulation to improve the carbon footprint of the building.
• Add whatever insulation is appropriate once the tiles are off and can see the depth between joists etc.
• To replace all lead and ridge tiles (it is an octagon shape so 8 ridges).

The shape of the theatre when built was to give this lovely octagon shape which is evident inside and outside and blends neatly into the hillside of the Dales in this conservation area. Many are still alive who raised the money for the original build and love the theatre and it would be a great sadness to them to lose this facility.