Restoration work on three historic properties beside Tamworth Castle has uncovered building fabric dating to around 1693.

Specialists working at 26a, 27 and 27a Market Street have found sections of original wattle and daub hidden behind modern wall coverings, offering an insight into more than 300 years of the buildings' history.

Tamworth Borough Council said the Grade II listed properties are undergoing structural and conservation work as part of its wider town-centre regeneration programme.

Visitors wearing hard hats inside a Market Street property undergoing restoration
A visit inside one of the properties undergoing restoration. Photo: BSN Group Construction.

Preserving original materials

Heritage contractor BSN Group Construction is assessing individual timbers to decide which can be retained and treated and which need replacing.

Specialist testing equipment is being used to measure the density of the wood and assess its structural condition. The intention is to preserve as much original material as possible while making the buildings safe.

Scaffolding around the historic Market Street properties beside Tamworth Castle
Scaffolding supports the listed properties while restoration work continues. Photo: BSN Group Construction.

Some timbers have suffered decay caused by woodworm and deathwatch beetle. A major beam has been replaced with new oak, and new floor joists and sections of the timber frame are being installed where required.

Internal and external propping supports the properties while the structural work takes place.

A member of the restoration team examining a wall inside a Market Street property
Historic building fabric is being assessed during the restoration. Photo: BSN Group Construction.

Structural repairs and bat protection

A gable wall that is bowing outwards will need to be carefully taken down and rebuilt. The wider programme includes re-roofing, facade restoration and internal improvements to meet current safety standards.

A replacement stair tower is also planned because the existing structure is unsafe.

Brown long-eared bats roost in the roof space, so ecological measures are being carried out alongside the building work. Bat boxes have been installed and an established roost is being retained within one of the beams.

An ecologist visits regularly and is present during work in areas where bats could be affected.

Work continues beside the castle

Council leader Carol Dean said the discoveries showed why the restoration needed a careful approach, with historic materials retained wherever possible.

She said there was still a significant amount of work to complete, but the progress was encouraging and would help protect the character of Market Street.

The council says the project will create opportunities for the properties to have a future use once restoration is finished. A completion date and final uses were not announced in the update.