SKIPTON'S Wetherspoon's The Devonshire Inn is to close briefly later this month following the £390,000 restoration of its hundreds years old roof and to allow the inside to be redecorated.

Restoration of the 220-year old roof of the former coach inn in Newmarket Street -the town's only grade two star listed secular building - is set to be completed on Thursday, June 15. The scaffolding, which has been up for several weeks, is due to come down on the following Monday, after which the pub will be closed to allow the inside to be redecorated. It is due to reopen again in time for the evening of Friday, June 23 - ready to serve the people of Skipton 'for many years to come'.

The pub company says the roof's existing sandstone slates have been lifted, exposing its timber roof structure. All damaged timbers have been replaced and a breathable roofing felt has been fitted which provides a secondary form of protection, before the existing sandstone slates have been reused to recover the roof. It says additional slates have been sourced locally to replace any damaged ones. In addition, the large chimney stacks have been repaired and repointed.

Planning permission and listed building consent for the grade two star listed building - marking it as of 'outstanding architectural or historic interest' - was approved by the former Craven District Council in December last year, and includes improved access for disabled people.

In a officer's report, it is stated: "Given that the application site is Skipton’s only Grade Two Star listed secular building, it is important that any potential developments are considered carefully and are carried out only where absolutely essential, so as not to detract from the character and significance of the building itself.

"Care has been taken to ensure that methods are sensitive to the historic fabric of the site. The conservative approach taken to repair work aligns with the advice provided by Historic England."

Wetherspoon’s regional property manager, Paul Turner MRICS, said: “ The restoration project will ensure that the well-known building will be able to serve people in the town for many years to come.”

The Devonshire was built as an inn in around 1800, and was originally known as The New Inn. Designed by the Earl of Burlington, it was renamed the Devonshire when the earl's daughter married the 4th Duke of Devonshire. It originally provided accommodation for stage coach travellers and included stabling for horses at the rear, which was later replaced with a bowling green.