ANCIENT parts of a historic hall will be revealed at Astley's Dam House.

Partitions put up in the 19th century at the former hospital and manorial home will be removed to uncover the Long Gallery. Further work planned includes timber frame wall restoration.

Tea-rooms, a medical practice and community health centre, a meeting room, nursery and private offices have been created at Dam House since the Morts Astley heritage Trust took over the site.

A community education centre is planned in the attic and restoration of the Long Gallery will provide scope for re-enactment, role playing, static displays and interpretation.

The Wigan Civic Trust Committee had made objections claiming there was no reason for thinking a Long Gallery ever existed. However Wigan Council claims that the Trust has not studied all the information given to them and that their counter arguments were factually incorrect.