Scaffolding nearing Completion

Works to fully enclose the building are nearing completion - and Ledbury residents will no doubt not failed to spot the large structure that has appeared - which is clearly visible from many parts of the town centre and surrounding hills.

An early morning crane lift saw the temporary roof moved into place - after it was erected on the ground for a time taking up part of the carpark.

The temporary roof will protect the building when the roof is removed to allow the medieval timbers to be repaired and new sections of timber to be lifted into place.

SML January 2013 Update

How quickly time flies by. Is it really already month since Christmas?! It is indeed! 

So it is worthwhile giving a quick look back over the last few months and a look forward to hopefully what will be an extremely exciting year on site.

If you have been following this blog you will probably be aware we completed the refurbishment of ‘Phase 1’ of the project back in April 2012 which allowed Herefordshire County Council to move to their new location on the opposite side of the Masters House.  

April 2012 - Just as the works to 'Phase 1' were being completed

This move left the rest of the building empty - which allowed us to strip out the building to reveal the fabulous medieval structure that had been hidden behind centuries of alterations.

The Medieval structure contained within the more recent shell of the building 

A number of public Hard Hat Days were held, together with group specific visits from the local schools & Friends of the Masters House - meaning that around nearly a thousand visitors have come to site to look around whilst the works are in progress.

Since the completion of the strip out in the summer very little actual construction work has taken place. However, we and the design team have been busy behind the scenes working on the plans for Phase 2 - and applications for grants to the Heritage Lottery Fund submitted. The result of which will be known around Easter time. 

Shopmobility who also occupied part of the building have also been moved into the old Ambulance Station in Bye Street – and parking for the users of their facilities has been created.

In preparation for a hopefully successful application, we have undertaken works to increase the number of car parking spaces to offset those which have now been taken up by our compound and the erection of a large tent like scaffold which will encapsulation the building. The end result of these alterations is that despite first impressions there is actually the same number of spaces available for parking as there was before the works started.

Local residents and Car Park users will doubt have noticed that despite rather snowy conditions the scaffold erection has commenced this week and will take place over the next couple of months. It will fully encapsulate the building and allow for the removal of the roof whilst protecting the precious timbers from the weather.

Scaffolding being erected looking from the direction of the 'Alms Houses'

Access Scaffolding on the South Side of the Building

As ever during our time on site we will endeavor to ensure that our employees and subcontractors perform in the most courteous manner possible with the minimum of disruption for you.  A large percentage of the construction team are Ledbury residents and, as such, understand the ongoing concerns over the impact that these works may have on the surrounding area,  the public and local businesses. 

The site is registered under the Considerate Constructors Scheme; an independently assessed scheme which monitors our activities in a number of key areas designed to both minimise the impact of our works, but also our contribution to the local area. For more information on the scheme visit www.ccscheme.org.uk. 

If, at any time, you wish to raise query or concern regarding the works, please contact either our resident Site Manager Ed Mandrell on 07976763579, or visiting Contracts Manager Pat Gorin on 07817240153. 

The Master’s House – Update January 2013

The end of 2012 saw a flurry of activity associated with the Master’s House.  At the beginning of December the Project Team submitted its application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a grant of over a £1 million to help secure the future of the building. The Grant application is for monies towards both the restoration works and for a range of heritage activities and interpretation telling the story of the building as part of a medieval hospital complex.

At the end of December, Listed Building Consent was granted to Herefordshire Council for the proposed works at the Master’s House. Early in the New Year the Project Team will be submitting another bid for funding, this time to English Heritage, for help with the costs of refurbishment.

 

We will be notified of a decision by the Heritage Lottery Fund in early March 2013.

 

Changes to the St Katherine’s Car Park, Ledbury

Local residents and Visitors may have noticed some remarking of the car parking spaces at St Katherine’s. The work has been done in preparation for the erection of a large scaffolding that will be required as part of the refurbishment of the Master’s House.

The most significant change has been the replacing the Car Parking spaces between the Master’s House and the Alms-houses with three spaces for Disabled Parking Spaces.  This loss of spaces has been compensated for by creating more spaces elsewhere within the Car Park. The work was programmed to minimise disruption over Christmas and the New Year. The scaffolding is due to be erected in February but preparatory works will commence early in the New Year to prepare the site.

For more details please contact Andy Tector at Herefordshire Council on 01432 261989 or email aet@herefordshire.gov.uk

This week at the Masters House

Last weekend saw a very successful Hard Hat Day which despite dismal weather conditions attracted over 250 people to guided by HCC staff & members of the 'Friends of the Masters House' and give their views on the future of the landscaping around St. Katherines.

Last Friday's edition of the Ledbury Reporter also featured a very positive full page write up -follow this link to read the online edition. http://www.ledburyreporter.co.uk/news/10071428.Master_s_House_work_under_way/ 

Behind the scenes work continues on the design, and as per the Reporter article the team is working on hopefully a successful Heritage Lottery Bid which will propel Phase 2 of the project into action in the New Year.

On site - eagle eyed people will have spotted a decontamination unit in the carpark as asbestos that was concealed below the floor is removed following the departure of shopmobility from that wing of the building.

Hard Hat Tours of the Master's House - 24.11.12

Hard Hat Guided Tours of the Medieval Master's House

 

24^th November 2012 from 10am - 2pm

Come and see the Master's House and take the opportunity to comment on the proposed landscape design for the St Katherine’s site . . . . 

 

Come and see the recently exposed medieval part of the building and see the plans for the exciting redevelopment of this historically important building of Ledbury.

 

Tours of the Master’s House will take place between 10am and 2pm, every half hour.  Spaces can be booked at the Master's House on the day.

 

We will also be seeking your comments on the proposed landscape design for the area around the Master’s House, which will be on display at the Master's House.

 

For further information please contact Mick Ligema at Herefordshire Council on 01432 260631 or email: mligema@herefordshire.gov.uk

 

St. Katherines Car Parking Works

Works were completed over the weekend to rearrange the white lining in preparation for the later phase of works to the Masters House.

The layout as it stands in front of the Masters House nearest the High Street may seem a little strange until the likely extent of the scaffolding is viewed. The spaces have been rotated to allow for the scaffolding to encroach from the front of the building whilst maintaining access to St. Katherines Hall. 

Additional spaces have been created in front of the HCC offices and in the corner of the carpark where the recycling bins used to be located. Parking for motorcycles has also been refreshed.

Shopmobility

Ledbury Shopmobility ran by Community Voluntary Action Ledbury & District has now moved to the old Ambulance Station in Bye Street. There are 3 new disabled bays outside the Ambulance Station for users of the scheme.

For more information contact them on 01531 635339  or visit their Facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/CommunityVoluntaryActionLedbury?fref=ts

St. Katherines Car Park Works

As part of the precommencement works for the main Phase 2 of the project due to commence in 2013 we will undertaking carpark alterations commencing Tuesday 30th October which will run for 3 weeks.

There may be minor disruption to the carpark but this should be minimal and should not affect the normal usage of the carpark.

The Carpark will be closed on Sunday 18th November (weather permitting) for Line Marking.

The works include the removal of existing flower beds to provide 5nr additional standard carparking spaces, 3 extra disabled spaces, the formation of an area of a site compound and the installation of an upgraded telephone line system.

3 further disabled spaces have also been already formed at the former ambulance station users of the Shopmobility scheme.

These alterations are necessary to offset the carpark spaces that will taken up by the erection of the scaffolding on the North & East elevations once Phase 2 starts.

Ledbury in Bloom

As one of the sponsors we are pleased to announce that Ledbury struck Gold in the Britain in Bloom competition for the 6th successive year and has also won the category of best town!

http://ledburyinbloom.wordpress.com/2012/09/18/ledbury-in-bloom-strikes-gold/

Ivy Removal

Just a reminder that for the next few days part of the car park adjacent the Feathers will be closed whilst ivy is removed which is damaging the hotel and old barn. We will endevour to keep disruption to a minimum,

Jubilee Poems and Queen's visit to Hereford

As part of Ledbury Poetry Festival SpellerMetcalfe and Ledbury Primary School jointly sponsored a poet to visit the school and spend time with the children to create Jubilee inspired poems.

These are now on show on the hoarding - which we are planning to continue to use as a blank canvas for future artworks and displays.

As part of the Queen's jubilee visit to Hereford - she paid a visit Ledbury's tent at King George V's playing field yesterday. The model of the Masters House formed part of a display that the Queen looked at as she passed through. Although her visit was fleeting - the model was seen by hundreds of people on the day - and the whole event was considered a success and a great privilege for all those involved to be a part of.

http://www.ledburyreporter.co.uk/news/9811061.Ledbury_great_and_good_meet_Queen/

Car Park Works

There are few elements of work that will be undertaken in St. Katherines Car Park over the next few weeks.


Thursday 5th July - White Lining - Creating additional Car Parking/tidying existing lines.
Monday 9th July - Survey Works - The North-East section of the Car Park will be closed while Amey undertakes below ground surveys. This is to assess whether the ground is capable of undertaking the loadings that will be imposed by the scaffolding.
1st August - Ivy Removal - Ivy which is damaging the old barn and the Feathers will be removed. Small sections of the carpark will be closed as the works progress.

We will endevour to keep the disruption to a minimum as these essential works take place.

Telling the story of the Masters House in Ledbury

Telling the story of the Masters House in Ledbury

Herefordshire Council is encouraging residents to have their say about how the story of the masters House in Ledbury should be told. 

Residents are invited to a community consultation morning on Tuesday 3 July outside the Market House in Ledbury from 9am to 2pm.

Herefordshire Council have been awarded a stage one pass from the Heritage Lottery Fund to develop plans for the restoration, and to tell the story of the Masters House, which forms part of the medieval St Katherine’s Hospital site in the centre of Ledbury.

Once restored the building will be used for a range of community services including a community library, Herefordshire Council customer services and the registrar’s service. It will also become home to Ledbury Voluntary Action and the Victoria County History Trust.

The Friends of the Masters House and PLB Consulting (heritage consultants working on the bid) will be available to discuss possible themes and stories that might be told about the Masters House and the wider St Katherine’s Hospital site via a range of interpretation methods. This may include information boards, guided tours, heritage open days, family history sessions and the development of education packs for school visits. 

Andy Tector, Herefordshire Council, said: “This is a very exciting project and we’d like to encourage people to come and look at the ideas that have developed so far and tell us what they think. “

“The team will be available from 9am outside the Market Hall in Ledbury until 2pm. There will also be an opportunity to have a look inside the Masters House. The building has now been stripped out and the medieval timber frame is exposed for the first time in hundreds of years.”

Open Day at the Masters House

A 'Hard Hat' Day was held on site on the 26th May allowing residents and interested parties a chance to tour the site now that the works have been stripped out ready for planning for Phase 2.

The event was a success with over 120 people attending and raised the collection and BBQ raised £80 for St. Michael's Hospice.

Before works get underway to fully start restoring the area in New Year we plan to hold another open event to allow those who missed out this time a chance to see this exciting project.