A £1 MILLION restoration project to save a Victorian conservatory at a historic Ryedale hall has begun.

The work at Scampston Hall will protect its glasshouses, built in 1894, as well as the Gardeners’ Bothies. The glasshouses are a major feature of the hall’s walled garden. The work is being carried out by local contractor William Birch & Sons.

Once restored, the conservatory and bothies will be used by local schools and groups for heritage and education activities, with a community room and lecture theatre set up. Funding has come from the Heritage Lottery Fund and other organisations.

Paul Goyea, William Birch & Sons’ managing director, said: “We have been working with the client’s project team over the last few months on this interesting and important scheme - we have a long history of restoring heritage buildings in North Yorkshire and our team will enjoy once again working in this sensitive environment.”

Caroline Legard, Scampston Conservatory Preservation Company’s project leader, said: “Our vision is not only to restore this wonderful building, but to enable a wide range of people to become involved with gardening and the wider estate at Scampston.”