The Bradford cabmen’s shelter which has been a long-term fixture at the Crich Tramway Village’s Wakebridge stop has been removed from its usual home and transported to Bristol for a start to be made on its restoration back to (as near as possible) its 1877 condition.
The restoration work is being undertaken by Dorothea Restorations who have previously restored two tram shelters at Crich as well as work on the Laxey Wheel on the Isle of Man, Clifton Suspension Bridge and Tyntesfield iron glasshouse.
The team from Bristol were at Crich at the end of July to prepare the structure for transportation with the roof tiles removed (these won’t be reused as they aren’t original). The wooden roof, gables and glass were also removed with the structure then braced with metal supports. Timber from the roof will be reused where possible and the gable ends will also be reinstated.
It is hoped that the full restoration will be completed by 2021 and it will be as close as possible to its 1877 apperance when it was first installed at Christ Church cab stand in Bradford. It is expected that the structure will be returned to Crich in the close-season this year with the interior then fitted by Crich’s coachbuilder and a range of information and learning resources added.
Whilst this is in need of doing, why is it going away? Surely it could have been done on site by joiners? Or even volunteers/local college and save the vast expense?