FRAMING THE FUTURE
Patrons:
The High Steward of Wallingford, Sir Colin Imray, & Lady Shirley Imray
Latest News
WALLINGFORD'S MEDIEVAL FAIR FUND RAISER
The latest big event in the Framing the Future calendar was a Medieval Fair held on the Kinecroft on Saturday 21 August. For details click here.
BUILD EVENT DELAYED - BUT GOING AHEAD!
We had hoped that the build event on the Kinecroft to construct the timber-framed Annexe would have taken place this summer. Unfortunately, we have had to make the decision to delay this because we have not yet raised the necessary funding.
As the Museum’s Chairman, Steve Capel-Davies, explained "We all knew it was a very tight timetable from the granting of the Planning Permission and we have done our utmost to reach the required funding target in time. Even in this difficult economic climate, we’ve had fantastic support from local people and businesses, helping us to raise £50,000 from local sources alone. We are currently pursuing a number of grant applications but their decision dates mean that, sadly, we won’t be able to build the timber frame this summer, as previously hoped. We are still confident, however, that this exciting project will happen, and we shall be continuing our programme of fund-raising to ensure its success." (See Stop Press below)
Meanwhile, the volunteer who had offered his services to the Museum as Project Manager, has withdrawn from the Project. He said that he was unhappy that the new Annexe would belong to the Museum and not to ‘the public’. We explained that someone had to be responsible for the management, maintenance and insurance of the new building and there were two choices - the Museum or the Town Council. The latter was reluctant to take on the additional costs involved and preferred the building to belong to the Museum. The Museum was quite prepared to take on the responsibility and the Town Council has ratified that situation.
The Board of Directors has now identified a professional project manager which it will engage once the funding is in place. This will ensure that the building will be constructed as planned.
Please be assured that all the generous sponsorship we have received will not be in vain - the project will go ahead and, thanks to the enthusiastic and generous support that so many local people have already shown, we are confident that the new timber-framed annexe will become an asset to be run by the Museum for the benefit of the town.
STOP PRESS: We have decided to apply for a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Grant. Originally we had decided not to do this because it would not fit our tight timetable to build the frame this summer. This is no longer feasible and we believe that in the current difficult financial climate, the only way we can raise the £500,000 we need is with a very substantial grant - HLF could, if we are successful, provide this. We have only just begun the process which could take around 18 months to complete, so it is possible that the build will not now take place until 2012. But if we can make it happen, the delay would be well worthwhile!
What is Framing The Future?
It is an exciting new project being undertaken by the Museum to build a medieval-style two-storey timber-framed building in the back yard of medieval timber-framed Flint House, the home of the Museum.
The purpose of the project is:
to create a high profile for Wallingford and the Museum by attracting
a wide range of public interest
to provide new galleries, facilities for disabled
visitors and other accommodation which will help the Museum to attract
more visitors and thereby bring more tourists to the town.
to create a spectacular public event on the Kinecroft in the heart of
Wallingford when the frame is erected
As the timber framing and joints will be visible from inside the
building, the whole structure will be a living exhibit of how medieval
timber-framed buildings, like Flint House itself and the Town Hall, were
constructed and developed. To increase the educational value, the
various bays will reflect the techniques of different centuries from
Medieval to Victorian times.
The Museum Needs
The Museum needs more space! Every available nook and cranny has been
used to store the ever-growing collection of local artefacts - many are
tucked away under the displays!
In addition to the items kindly donated to us, we are amassing a large
amount of archaeological material as a result of the Garden Archaeology
Project - part of the nationally important Wallingford Burh to Borough
Project. For processing and storing these, we need an archaeological
workshop
We also want to expand our displays to put more emphasis on
Wallingford & the World - featuring internationally famous local
inhabitants like Agatha Christie, Jethro Tull and Judge Blackstone.
Attractions like these will bring more tourists to Wallingford.
We need better facilities for people with mobility problems -
including a greater proportion of the display areas accessible to
everyone and a full specification disabled WC
We need better visitor facilities - a visitor toilet and a kitchen for
light refreshments for groups
The Benefits
New display areas accessible to all
(first floor accessed from a platform lift)
Video/meeting area for adult and school group visits and potential
other community use
Disabled WC and visitor WC on ground floor
Covered activity area for events such as Family Archaeology Days and
for pot-washing
Archaeological workshop
Environmentally controlled Collections Management area
Whole building is a living exhibit demonstrating the timber-frame
building techniques from Medieval to Victorian times, complementing the
original Medieval timber framing on display in Flint House
Visual improvement to the present rather dismal concrete backyard
which will improve the context of the listed building
Flat floor access from High Street door of Museum through to ground
floor of the Annexe
Release of present unattractive kitchen area to be reworked as a new
ground floor display gallery, thus improving the listed building and
providing more display space available to disabled visitors
Unique, eco-friendly project which will create national and local
interest and potential for increased visitor numbers and tourism for the
town
Views of the Proposed Annexe -
Top: The timber frame; Middle: 3D view (by June Strong); Bottom: West
elevation - view from Library car-park (by June Strong)
Contact Us
For general enquiries about the project please contact Stuart Dewey at museum@piepowder.co.uk or telephone 01491 651127
For publicity enquiries please contact Stu Darby at stuart.darby@lineone.net
For information about sponsoring a beam, sponsoring a peg, organising a fundraising event, offering timber or offering help with materials and services please go to this page.
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