Work to upgrade a 164-year-old roof – and dramatically reduce energy costs – is under way at a Brighouse school.

The project is being carried out at the William Henry Smith School by Brighouse-based energy efficiency and roofing specialist Ploughcroft – one of the few construction companies in the region qualified to complete such specialist work.

Ploughcroft will restore the roof of the school’s Newton building to its original glory and bring it into the 21st century by installing state-of-the-art insulation.

These measures will help reduce heat loss through the roof by up to 75% and in turn will help to make significant savings on heating costs.

Caroline Booth, business manager at the school, said: “There is a lot of history behind our school and maintaining the buildings is important to the efficient running and management of the complex.

“Refurbishing the roof is an important aspect of our planned maintenance strategy and the additional insulation energy savings that we can reinvest back into our school.”

PSK Building Surveyors Ltd is contract administrator for the project.

Chris Hopkins, managing director at Ploughcroft, said: “Being a Brighouse-based business ourselves, we’re delighted to be working with William Henry Smith School.

“We are proud to play a part in helping maintain a building that has such an interesting local history and the project was the opportunity to combine our two passions – heritage work and eco roofing.”

The school dates back to 1850 and was a family home before serving as a hospital during World War One.

In 1916, the estate was bought by William Smith, who set it up as an orphanage.

Following the Second World War, plans were put into place to convert it into a special school. The William Henry Smith Special School for boys was founded in September, 1961.