The Restoration Project

Project Update, November 2004

It's great to report that Wm Sapcote & Sons Ltd (Sapcote), our building contractors, started the building work as scheduled on 19th April 2004 and that generally the work has progressed according to our original programme. A few delays along the way have resulted in a minor re-scheduling of the completion date to January 2005, but as that date approaches everyone is confident that work will be completed by the new target date.

At the time of writing the roof is in place (including a replacement of the original ridge sign), the rotten floor joists (unfortunately that is most of them) have been repaired or replaced, new floors are in, the internal plastering is nearing completion and the patterned tile floors are being renovated. So the building looks very bare, but is beginning to return to life! Externally, work to the boundary walls is nearing completion, and groundworks are in place for the new car-park, ready for re-surfacing and landscaping.

By special arrangement with Sapcote and thanks to their support, the building was open for viewing during the Civic Trust Heritage Weekend on 11th & 12th September - with over 200 people taking the opportunity to see a building conservation project "in progress".

Thanks are due to local historian and former employee within the fire-brick (or refractories) industry, John Cooksey for writing the "History of Fire-bricks" section of this website. He has recently published a book "Brickyards of the Black Country - A Forgotten Industry" (price £9.99) available from John on 01384 836122.

Work to record the memories of former employees of the Harris & Pearson Company has been commissioned and began in October. More on this shortly.

With thanks to support from Dudley MBC, design work for an interpretation board to be installed within the central archway of the restored building is nearing completion. Design work for an accompanying information leaflet will follow.

October also saw the start of a marketing programme to find a new user for the restored building. For details contact the selling agents Fraser Wood (telephone 01922 629000).

Ways in which you can help at this stage:

• Do you know anyone who used to work at the Harris & Pearson building or at the brickworks? We are finalising the list to contact for possible recording of memories.
  
• If you know of any organisation with a possible interest to own or rent the building when restored, for use as commercial offices, please contact the selling agents Fraser Wood (telephone 01922 629000).


• Would you like to be kept informed about the ongoing work of the West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust? Then please contact us about becoming a member.
  
• And we are always in need of sponsors. If you know of any organisation likely to be interested in making a donation towards the general running costs of the Trust, or towards specific future building conservation projects, please contact us.