Ludlow Buttercross reopening after vandal attack
A landmark building in a Shropshire town which dates back to the 18th century is set to reopen to the public within days – four months after it closed following an attack by vandals.
Repair work on damaged stonework on the Buttercross in Ludlow will be finished by Thursday, paving the way for fencing and scaffolding to be taken down early next week, according to Ludlow Town Council.
The market space underneath the building on Broad Street, which dates back to 1744, has been closed off since vandals caused £30,000 of damage by pulling a large stone wheel off one of the walls, which caused cracks to appear in some of the building's pillars.
Most of the repairs have since been carried out, and contractors are expected to put the finishing touches to the scheme on Friday before the market space is re-opened.
Market traders who had previously operated in the space under the building were moved to other pitches around the town centre while the work was carried out.
The Buttercross is one of the town's most iconic buildings and sits at the top of Broad Street. Rooms upstairs have previously been used to house a charity school and as a home for Ludlow Town Council, while there are plans to use the space as a heritage and interpretation centre detailing the town's history.
Gina Wilding, acting clerk of Ludlow Town Council, said: "Most of the work on the Buttercross has been done. We are expecting the scaffolding to be removed on Thursday and our contractors Treasure & Son have a small section of repairs to do on Friday. Once that is done then hopefully we will be able to allow access to the Buttercross again."
Vandals pulled the stone wheel from a metal bracket holding it to the wall, causing it to crash to the ground on?July 14.
