NEWS @ St Anne's
APRIL 2012
Another super busy month.
Most of the news for this month can be found in the restoration diary available on this site, the building works and subsequent archaeology took over much of the project during this time. Basically all the render and plaster had to be removed from the chapel walls and this revealed a wealth of architectural history and archaeological features. It is hoped that some of these features will be left on display.
Re-plastering has begun already which is encouraging because traditional lime plastering is a long process. It is hoped that the building works schedule has not been too badly affected. A special feature on traditional lime plastering will soon appear in a new section on this website.
The darts we found in the eaves continued to make the news. Filming took place at St. Anne’s for a forthcoming edition of James May’s Toy Stories. St. Anne’s may only be a small part of the programme but it was great fun and it all helps to get the St. Anne’s story out there. Here is a picture of James May with Peter Sprague, the on-site carpenter for Pearce Construction.
Plans are well underway for the Launch day which is scheduled for Saturday 11 August, as previously mentioned it is hoped that the building works stay on schedule to make this date a reality. It is hoped to have many different things to do on the day and for the feeling to be one of celebration.
Following some of the newspaper article a local man, Mr David Fennell, got in touch with the project through the North Devon Gazette. It turns out that Mr. Fennell’s father, Ernest, went to school at St. Anne’s between 1901 and 1904. Mr Fennell very kindly donated an original St. Anne’s history text book and hand written test paper to the Town Council. A special feature on this is also ready for the next expansion of this website. Here’s a picture of Mr. David Fennell.
If you have any stories of memories of St. Anne’s Chapel we would very much like to hear them. Please contact the manager; nothing is too small everything is valuable.
March 2012
Well so much has happened this since the last update it is difficult to know where to begin.
The restoration work has begun, for a diary of this please see the ‘Restoration’ page on this site. The contractors and the sub-contractors have been, and continue to be, extremely open and enthusiastic about the project.
The manager has been consulting with numerous special interest groups, schools, societies and individuals in order to foster links with the community and to have an open exchange of ideas. This part of the project has been extremely useful.
Many projects have been started including the Virtual Tour. The Virtual Tour is to enable people to experience a visit to St. Anne’s from the comfort of their own homes. It is a vital project to promote inclusiveness and share St. Anne’s with the community far and wide. Many primary schools have joined with St. Anne’s and are busy starting new projects which it is hoped will lay the foundations for a lasting relationship.
With floorboards temporarily lifted and a scaffold up allowing access to the eaves, the opportunity presented itself to explore hitherto inaccessible areas of the building. Many fascinating finds were made, most relating to the grammar school period. Most evocative of all was the discovery of a number of paper darts, made out of scraps of school work and pen nibs. These tiny items made the local press, national press, international press and local television! You just cannot buy such publicity!
View the page from the North Devon Journal 15th March.
Other news includes a visit from Dr. Martin Bridge, Institute of Archaeology, University College London. Martin is a dendrochronologist and is attempting to date some of the timber work inside St. Anne’s. His work is funded by English Heritage. Also in the building was Keystone Historic Buildings Consultants, also funded by English Heritage. They were there to draw section of the timbers in the roof while the opportunity was there with the scaffold up.
February 2012
Keys have been handed over to Pearce Construction and work has begun at St. Anne’s. The contractors started by securing the access, fulfilling welfare and health and safety protocols and preparing the site for signage.
The St. Anne’s Manager has received three exhibition bookings and one adult learning course booking before works even began. Work continues on other events and initiatives.
January 2012
A manager has been appointed for St. Anne’s Chapel and work has begun on developing the Council’s plans for a programme of events and activities.
Building contractors have been appointed for the repairs and renovations to St. Anne’s Chapel. Work is expected to begin towards the end of February.
September 2011
The Council have learnt that their bid for funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund is a success! The HLF award is for £148,000 to which Devon County Council add a further award of £75,000. Architects are appointed.
February 2011
Barnstaple Town Council commission Edward Crumpton, a local artist who will work as artist-in-residence at St Anne's, making work that focuses on the transitional light and space from inside the building.
To view Edward's work on St Anne's Chapel please visit his website www.edcrumpton.com.
September 2010
The Council has learnt that it has been successful in Round One of its bid for funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Barnstaple Town Council has begun to prepare for round two of their bid for funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to bring St. Anne’s chapel back into community use. The council is preparing detailed proposals for repair work and sympathetic renovation of St. Anne’s Chapel. The works are planned to include new toilet facilities, electrics, lighting, staging, furniture, sound and heating systems. The council is also preparing detailed plans for a program of events and activities to take place at the Chapel.
Barnstaple Town Council has commissioned a detailed Conservation Management Plan from Keystone Historic Buildings Consultants to further advance the bid for lottery funding.
February – April 2010
Discussions have been held with English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund. Given that St. Anne’s is a Grade I listed building and of national importance the council have sought early advice on how to proceed with its plans for the building.
A Consultative Day is being held for St Anne’s Chapel in order for the aims of the project to be explained and to give interested parties an opportunity to give their views and support the HLF bid.
October 2009
A pre-application bid has been submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund. This is a precursor to entering into the bid process proper.
September 2009
Following on from the successful restoration of the Albert Clock, the Heritage Committee of Barnstaple Town Council has agreed to explore the feasibility of bringing St. Anne’s Chapel back into community use.
October 2007
Barnstaple Town Council has commissioned a feasibility study on the possibility of bringing St. Anne’s Chapel back into public use.
Working for the Community
