FRAMING THE FUTURE

Patrons:
The High Steward of Wallingford, Sir Colin Imray, & Lady Shirley Imray

What is Framing The Future?

It is an exciting new project to be undertaken by the Museum in association with The Carpenters’ Fellowship 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 three-fold:

 to create a high profile for Wallingford and the Museum by attracting a wide range of public interest
 to create a spectacular public event on the Kinecroft in the heart of Wallingford in August of this year when the frame is constructed and erected
 in the long term, 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.

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

Find out more by clicking on the buttons on the left or the headings below:

A Festival of Traditional Skills

Plans & Drawings

How You can Get Involved

Progress to Date