Vandals damage historic building in Falinge Park

Date published: 26 July 2019

Mindless yobs have once more vandalised a historic roof and steps in Falinge Park.

Over the course of two nights (Sunday 21 July and Monday 22 July), the vandals left a four-foot hole under the steps to the sun gardens, smashed around 300 slates and ridge tiles, and damaged coping stones and finial decorations in the gardens.

Members of the Vintage Worx Community Development Trust, a community led not-for-profit organisation based in Falinge Park, are now looking at installing extra security cameras, and have added anti-vandal paint on the roof of the façade of the grade-II listed Falinge Hall and the Tea Rooms, which has suffered from some water damage due to rain after the damage was caused.

Tracie Powers, of Vintage Worx, which has held a lease and operated from Falinge Park since 2006, said: “It looked as though a sledgehammer had been taken to the steps. It’s all just hours of work to repair this vandalism, which is not needed.

“It looks as though they were looking on the roof for lead, but that all went years ago. They’ve ripped up the flash banding and smashed the tiles all over the path, tearing them up from all four sides. That roof dates back to 1780, and the steps were installed in 1903… it’s just soul-destroying when something like this happens.”

Ms Powers continued: “The council has luckily paid for and repaired the damage to the gardens, and usually the roof repairs come down to us. As a voluntary group which does not receive core funding, this comes from money raised from events and set aside for projects and activities.

“However, the council has offered to fix the roof, for which I am unbelievably grateful. When we have to fix damage caused by others, it has a knock-on effect which affects everything else we are trying to do, like bring in a new outdoor gym and playground for the children.”

Councillor Neil Emmott, cabinet member for environment, said: “It’s troubling to see the vandalism that took place in Falinge Park this weekend. GMP are aware and are increasing their presence in the area.

“We have today repaired the steps up to the sun garden and work will begin to fix the roof of the tea rooms this weekend.”

The Hall and grounds, also known as Mount Falinge, were first donated for use as a public park in 1902 by Alderman Samuel Turner, along with £3,628 towards the laying out of the grounds, which were designed by Thomas Mawson. 

In 1911 Alderman Turner donated a further five acres on the occasion of the coronation of King George V, and the grounds were further extended in the same year.

The park has remained in public use ever since.