THI Updates - 2013
15.01.13 NVQ Level 3 Heritage Construction now at Bedford
College
Bedford College is now
offering NVQ heritage construction courses to experienced workers
as part of an expanding heritage skills offering within the
Construction Department.
THI Updates - 2012
20.12.12 First Grant Application Received
The first THI Grant Application was
received by the THI Team from two High Street property owners,
to bring forward a programme of repair, reinstatement and re-use
works on their property. A Grant Offer Letter has been sent out and
the last details are being finalised before works can
commence.
06.12.12 Luddington's Passage Refit and 'Pendulum'
Artwork
The refurbishment works and artwork
installation in Luddington's Passage, High Street, was celebrated
with a photo opportunity for all involved, with Mayor Dave
Hodgson, local businesses and press in attendance. The artwork was
produced by Michelle Crowther and installed with help from her
fellow HND Fine Art students. As beautifully described by Michelle,
“My design reflects the passageway’s long association with John
Bull the jeweller and clockmaker (1829 to 1964). People walking
through the passage are marking time as they go to and from their
journeys - they become the 'Pendulum' within the timepiece.”
29.11.12 Dealing with Damp in Historic Buildings CPD
The session was delivered by Sara
Croft of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings and
Fred Markland, of David Coles Architects. Attendees were given a
thorough overview of problems with damp in historic buildings, the
multiplicity of causes and their associated remedies. The
session provided case study and real examples, offering
attendees a deeper understanding and knowledge of what tell tale
signs to look for and how regular maintenance, appropriate repairs
and careful attention to key elements of a building can prevent
serious problems arising.
28.11.12 Market Stall for National Maintenance Week
The Council’s Historic Environment
Team and THI Team held their annual Maintenance Week
stall in the bustling St Paul’s Square market. The
stall attracted the attention of numerous shoppers who stopped
for information on repairs and maintenance of their properties and
to look at traditional building material samples, insulation
options for older properties and secondary glazed and draft proofed
sash window examples, provided by Ventrolla.
31.10.12 THI Newsletter - 4th Edition
The fourth edition of the Bedford High Street THI Newsletter is
now available to view and download.
25.10.12 Energy Saving Week - THI Sustainability
Event
The THI Team and the Council's
Sustainability Team joined forces with the Citizen's Advice Bureau
to offer advice to the public about ways to save energy as winter
approaches. The THI stall was in Church Square and had
examples of different breathable insulation materials, an example
of a secondary glazed sash unit, provided by Storm Windows, and
draught preventing devices, such as a chimney balloon, all of which
are relatively simple and inexpensive ways to improve thermal
efficiency to a home, without causing damage to historic
building fabric.
16.10.12 Inserting Services in Historic Buildings
CPD
The course was delivered by Fred
Markland, of David Coles Architects, on behalf of the Society for
the Protection of Ancient Buildings. The day covered modern needs,
expectations and building regulations, best practice for inserting
services into historic buildings and problems that may
arise. The presentation also covered the growing need for
energy efficiency and use of renewable energy technologies. The day
concluded with a behind the scenes tour of The Higgins Museum
and Art Gallery, to see how it has approached housing all of
its numerous services and sustainable technologies as
part of an extensive refurbishment, whilst respecting the
fabric of its historic buildings.
06.09.12 - 09.09.12 Heritage Open Days
The annual Heritage Open Day event
was a fantastic success this year, with 13 properties open
over the 4 day event and an oversubscribed Bedford High Street
'I never knew that...' heritage walk. Heritage Open Days allow the
public free access to buildings and places of historic
significance and interest in the local area. A community outreach
stand in the Old Town Hall Council Chamber also
provided information on the THI project and an update on how
it is progressing.
04.09.12 Lime Day CPD
This one day workshop saw 13 local
building practitioners learning more about why and how to use lime
for traditional buildings in need of repair and maintenance. The
workshop was delivered by Nigel Copsey, Ben Gourley and Mark
Wilson, and gave a hands on workshop on a range of techniques,
including mixing hydraulic lime mortar, pointing, preparation of
surfaces and lime plastering.
20.08.12-14.09.12 Prince’s Trust 'Get Into Heritage
Construction'
The Prince’s Trust ‘Get into
Heritage Construction’ programme was delivered with Bedford College
Construction Department and local stone masons, Riverdale Stone. 11
young people took part, learning heritage construction skills such
as brickwork and stone masonry. The final week of the programme was
on-site at The Chellington Centre, with the restoration of a stone
wall. The course introduced trainees to the skills needed to get
into heritage construction through employment (apprenticeships),
further training or education.
Friends of High Street Businesses Group established
A High Street business group has
formed, to help collectively promote and address challenges
experienced by High Street traders. It meets on the first Wednesday
of every month in the Bear Public House, between 5.30 - 6.30pm.
27.07.12 Unveiling the new look Passage 101 and
Artwork
The new look passage was unveiled
by Mayor Dave Hodgson on 27th July. The passageway between 99 and
101 High Street has been cleaned, repainted, repaired, repaved and
had CCTV fitted. Michelle Crowther, a Bedford College HND Fine Art
student, has installed her artwork in the passage which features
newspaper typography and printer’s blocks, paying homage to
Bedford’s newspaper printing history, which centred around the
passageway area.
31.05.12 Mayor’s Breakfast
The Mayor convened an informal
meeting where High Street businesses could discuss any issues and
concerns they may have, and ways to promote and improve High
Street.
24.04.12 Window Dressing Course and Competition
Window display experts ‘Made You
Look’ offered a free window dressing workshop to High street
businesses which received much interest. The workshop was followed
by the ‘Best Dressed’ window competition which drew the public to
the High Street with over 1,200 people voting for their favourite
displays.
17.04.12 Design for Development in the Historic
Environment CPD
The training day was led by Richard
Guise of Context4D and attended by a number of
local property professionals. The course looked at
ways to achieve sensitive and appropriate design
interventions for the historic environment, with a focus on
context and applied to case studies.
30.03.12 THI Newsletter - 3rd Edition
The third edition of the Bedford High Street THI Newsletter
is now available to view
and download.
17.02.12 Understanding Heritage Significance CPD
The training day was led by staff
from Albion Archaeology for local property professionals and
covered Heritage Significance and Heritage Statements, as
part of planning and LBC applications. The value of High Street as
a culturally significant place was explored using English Heritage
conservation principles, and further examples of assessing and
recording heritage significance were reviewed. The course provided
a better understanding of legislation and policies surrounding the
historic environment and what to look for in terms of heritage
values.
THI Updates - 2011
9.12.11 : Market Stall promoting Bedford High Street THI
The Market Stall situated at the junction of Silver Street and
High Street was available for members of the public and businesses
to pop in and find out more about the scheme and how it is
progressing. The High Street was closed to traffic while the
Victorian Fair and Continental Market (9 - 11th December) was
taking place. During the day the Project Team spoke to over
twenty five people, listening to their comments regarding the
market and High Street closure and updating them on progress to
date on the scheme.
23.11.11 : Market Stall for National Maintenance Week (18th -
25th November)
The market stall, situated on the north side
of St Paul's Square, Bedford, was available for tenants and
property owners in the Borough to visit to obtain advice from the
Council's historic building experts on the use of traditional
repairs. The 'Maintaining and Repairing your Historic
Building' Guide and 'Maintenance Checklist' Guide were available to
pick up on the day. For more information on maintaining your
property visit our Property
Maintenace page.
10.9.11 : Heritage Days 2011
The Council opened the Town Hall Council Chamber and Mayor's
Parlour on the Saturday to promote the town's history and heritage,
and the THI Bedford High Street scheme. The event raised
awareness of the need to respect and care for the heritage of the
town and encourage people to investigate the town and its history
and the opportunities to become involved in other activities.
7.9.11 : THI Launch Event at 58 High Street, Bedford
The aim of this event was to publicise the
scheme to retailers, landlords and agents of properties in High
Street. The public were also welcome to drop in and ask questions
and view the display material. The event was very successful with
over 250 people attending including a number of High Street
businesses.
The Scheme is now underway with meetings taking place with
owners/tenants of High Street properties. For more
information on how the scheme is progressing contact Nancy Falloon,
THI Project Manager on (01234) 276258, email: nancy.falloon@bedford.gov.uk.
1.7.11 : Successful Stage 2 Application
We are delighted to advise that the Stage
2 Application for the Townscape Heritage Initiative
Funding submitted in March 2011 has been successful. At
the Heritage Lottery Fund Board meeting on Thursday 23rd June 2011
the Board agreed to support this application.
Starting in September 2011 the project will run for five years
until August 2016. Over the five years the sum of £850,000
lottery funding will be drawn down for the Bedford High Street THI
Scheme. For more detail on the funding to the scheme please
view the Press Release attached here.
If you would like any further information on
the scheme please contact Nancy Falloon on (01234) 276258, email:
nancy.falloon@bedford.gov.uk.
Since May 2010 the Project Team working on the THI Stage 2
application has been busy bringing together the supporting
information for the bid. This included:
Following the survey work a list of eligible properties was
prepared. To view the properties please open the attached
plans which are colour coded to show the eligible properties.