Walworth Town Hall

Wyatt Carruthers Jebb were invited to provide structural engineering advice following concerns raised with structural cracking occurring to a scheduled monument.

// Project Overview

This significant listed Victorian Public Building in central London was ravaged by fire leading the inward collapse of the roof and the danger of perimeter walls being pushed out. 

When our engineers arrived at the scene there was little left of the building.   The central core was gutted by the fire with only the main external walls surviving.  Structural steel and timber lay in a tangled mess and the remaining structure stood precariously.

Our brief was coordinate the removal of fire debris, and to engineer the temporary works to stabilise the building such that a full reinstatement appraisal could be carried out.

Wyatt Carruthers Jebb were the first people inside after the fire and after the initial assessment advised the Fire Brigade on the safest mode of operation and of the no go areas. 

Asbestos surveys were undertaken and once complete, arrangements were made for the site to be cleared using specialist lifting equipment.  The fire debris was removed using two coordinated mobile cranes which hoisted the rubble out of the centre of the building.

The building was assessed by Wyatt Carruthers Jebb after the general clean-up of collapsed and fire damaged materials and had been completed.  Much of the damage identified had resulted not only from the fire but from the impact of the water both during the fire-fighting action and the subsequent wet weather.

The parts of the structure subjected to fire were evaluated in a systematic manner to determine the extent of required structural repairs to restore the structural integrity of the building to its condition prior to the fire.

The preliminary structural assessment provided sufficient information to allow others to establish a realistic and objective estimate of cost of the structural works necessary to return the fire damaged structure to a structurally sound condition.

Wyatt Carruthers Jebb prepared temporary works designs for propping the building.  Arrangements were made for temporary raking shores and props to be erected to restrain the walls.  Scaffolding was erected and a concrete ring beam was cast around the perimeter walls to support a temporary roof.

A schedule of structural repairs was prepared by Wyatt Carruthers Jebb to preserve the buildings structural integrity until a decision has been made on the wholesale repairs and restoration of the building.

Having temporarily restored the stability of the building, the task of reinstatement was started and is still underway (late 2024).

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