Engineers working with Manchester Firm Buttress Architects have been undertaking an in-depth review of the building which was bought by Oswestry Town Council in 2023, after it had fallen into disrepair.
Concerns were raised about the building after roof tiles fell on to the street. After the acquisition Oswestry Town Council was awarded a grant to undertake repairs which was then put out to tender.
In a video update from Oswestry Town council one of the team at Clach Conservation Structural Engineers who are working with Buttress said: “What we have got, essentially, in structural terms – is a floppy box.
“The side of the box is flopping that way. Unfortunately, that is dragging beams off their support and stuff like that.”
Associate Architect at Buttress, Lucy Ashcroft, said: “The condition of some of those infill panels is a lot worse than you can see from the ground.
“So it has been helpful to know what we are working with a bit more.
She added: “It’s been standing since the 15th Century.
“It’s had such a life, and I think we are just adding to that next layer to that life – and it’s really, really exciting that we get to be a part of that.”
Restoration plans for the 15th-century timber-framed building include creating community and commercial spaces on the lower floors and developing holiday let accommodation on the upper floors.