A New Year brings with it the prospect of real
progress as the Tithe Barn Trust eagerly awaits
the deadline for the Tender Documents to be
returned on 8th February 2010.
It is hoped that all five contractors
invited to tender will do so before 12 noon on
that date.
Great thought has gone into the selection
of those invited to tender for the work.
When built in the 15th
Century, local craftsman would have been used
and today local knowledge and input is just as
important.
As a result all the contractors come from
within the counties of Somerset and Gloucester
and all have developed an expertise in restoring
buildings of special or historic interest.
At present there is still a shortfall in funding
which will have to be met through cost savings
and/or fundraising.
One way the local community is being
asked to help is by sponsoring a beam.
So far nearly £10,000 has been raised
this way.
Full details of this can be found on the
website or through the Town Council Office (tel:
01275 855277).
In March raffle tickets will be sold to
raise more money for the Barn.
The first prize in this raffle will be
tickets for two
Hot Air Balloon Rides.
The Draw will take place in May.
Tickets will be available at various
venues throughout the Town so keep an eye open
for details in the local press.In the meantime
the Trust is encouraged by the amount of
interest shown in the Barn when it is fully
restored.
In particular it is felt it will become a
popular venue for wedding receptions
particularly for those lucky people who get
married in the beautiful 13th Century
Church of Holy Trinity next door.
In addition the Trustees are talking to
the local authorities about creating development
partnerships so that many activities held within
the District of North Somerset can be brought
closer to where people live. The Barn has
private housing close by and every effort is
being made to reduce any potential nuisance.
In the meantime work will need to be
undertaken to empty the Barn and outbuildings
ready for work to start.
The next report will include details of the
Tenders.
Fingers crossed the price is right!
January 2010
GREAT NEWS FOR THE BARN!
The Tithe Barn project to restore a medieval barn in Nailsea
to its former glory has received a huge boost thanks to
Lottery funding.The Heritage Lottery Fund announced on 17th March
that the second slice of a £500,000 pledge for the scheme to
restore the 15th century tithe barn had been agreed.
The HLF had already given £27,000 to the Tithe Barn Trust to
pay for detailed plans to be drawn up and to go through the
planning permission process.
The trust then submitted a detailed business case and asked
for the rest of the cash – £473,000 – to be released.
Trustees were told that their bid had been successful and
now plan to move ahead with the £850,000 refurbishment.
So
far the trust has raised £50,000 towards the project from
fundraising, grants and the sponsor a beam initiative.
Nailsea Town Council, which leases the barn from North
Somerset Council, has earmarked substantial funds for the
project.
The remaining cash for the work will be raised from the sale
of the town council's offices at Church House in Silver
Street to Nailsea Baptist Church.
When the sale is complete, the council will move its
operations to offices at the newly restored, Grade II listed
barn.
Cash has also been pledged from the neighbouring Holy
Trinity Church.
Plans to restore the barn have been in the pipeline for five
years and it is hoped, if work goes to plan, the barn will
be fully operational by autumn 2010.
Tithe Barn Trust chairman David Francis said "We really appreciate the advice
and encouragement the HLF has given the Tithe Barn Trust and
the support of Nailsea Town Council and the Trustees and
myself are thrilled with the news”.”
"The refurbished Tithe Barn will provide a wonderful
community facility for Nailsea, which will reflect the
barn's unique heritage."
Plans for the barn include restoring the hidden oak roof,
restoring all the rooms and putting in new toilets, a
kitchen and offices.
Once open, it is hoped the barn will become a hub of
community life and will be available for hire to local
organisations and for private parties, including wedding
receptions, seven days a week.
Nailsea Town Council chairman, Councillor Mary Ponsonby,
said: "I am delighted at the news that we have been
successful in our bid for a grant from the Heritage Lottery
Fund. We shall now be able to put into effect our plans for
the future of our town's medieval tithe barn.
"This will have saved a priceless part of Nailsea's heritage
for future generations."
In 1792 it opened as Hannah More School and was used
continuously as a school until 1973 when North Somerset
Council used it as a day centre.
In the late 1990s the authority closed the day centre and
announced plans to knock down the building and built flats
on the site.
But the news caused outcry among members of the local
community.
They fought for Nailsea Town Council to take over the
building from North Somerset on a 125-year lease.
Since then the barn has been used by a number of community
groups and the congregation of the neighbouring Holy Trinity
Church.
Click here
to download of Submission document (pdf format - requires
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