Campaigners are working to save a historic mural that could be lost during the demolition of Durham County Hall.
The History of Durham mural is situated on the side of the county hall building, which from August will no longer be in use, with demolition predicted to begin in March next year.
Local campaign groups have expressed concern that the move will result in the pixel mosaic mural being destroyed and have backed a petition to conserve the artwork.
Groups such as the Twentieth Century Society, Professor Bennett Zon of Durham University, and the Tiles and Architectural Ceramics Association (TACS), have called for the mural to be saved and relocated, but require funds of £250,000 to do so.
A meeting between senior officers and the group was held last Tuesday, with Dr Sarah Glynn, Durham County Council’s strategic manager for culture, confirming that it was ‘positive and constructive’, and involved the discussion of the ‘significant challenges and potential costs of removing, conserving, and storing or relocating the mural’.
‘We have agreed that, if the group is able to source the funding for this work within the required timescale, we would be happy to support them’, she added.
A spokesperson for the Twentieth Century Society said: ‘Vivid, visual local history like this is simply too good to be lost to demolition. We’re pleased to be working closely with Durham Council, other heritage organisations and campaigners exploring solutions to save the mural, and to hopefully find it an appropriate new home.’
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