Restoration and Renovation
As you may know many funders have turned their attention to emergency funds in this difficult time, supporting organisations to keep afloat and safe guard their communities.
We are using this time to strengthen our business plan to ensure that, when we are successful in gaining funding for our full restoration, we manage the project effectively and make Highbury the success and community asset it deserves to be.
However if you are in the vicinity you may have noticed the scaffolding around the Hall and that the building is currently sealed off. This is whilst some essential repair works are carried out by Birmingham City Council with the assistance of a grant of £243,000 from English Heritage in order to help us mitigate our Heritage at Risk Status and protect Highbury as an asset to the city.
This is not the full restoration project that The Chamberlain Highbury Trust was set up to deliver. We are still fund raising for the majority of that work. This initial phase comprises the repair of the roof and the restoration of historic wallpapers that had suffered from water damage.
The lockdown provides an opportunity to repair the roof without interrupting our ever expanding and exciting events programme. Erection of the scaffolding was underway before lockdown commenced, and the contractors and conservators are able to work safely on the repair of the historic roof and the specialised wallpaper restoration work.
We will continue to share photos as the work is in development. Some of the work will be totally invisible when it is completed. These construction workers and conservationists will see areas of Highbury that have not been seen for 140 years when the house was built.
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