Project to restore tower at 500-year-old West Bromwich house under way
A £125,000 project to restore the rare viewing tower at the 500-year-old Oak House in West Bromwich is to get under way.
Major repairs are needed to repair the crumbling belvedere at the grade II listed Tudor house.
Sandwell Council is currently tendering for the scheme before contractors start on site next month.
Work is needed to repair the tower's timber structure and the exterior wall panels, which have been rapidly deteriorating.
During the work, scaffolding will be put up on the outside and inside of the tower.
Sandwell Museums manager Frank Caldwell said: "Tendering is underway and work is expected to be started in May.
"The tower has been here for 350 years."
A survey has shown work is needed on the tower's timber failed panelling and flashing. Other work to the house will include the replacement of guttering and downpipes across the whole building. There will be a new internal gutter to take rainwater from the central roofspan through the roofspace and a major programme of timber repairs to the front porch.
The structure is believed to be the only remaining timber-framed belvedere in the country.
