Ticket number - Name
71, 79, 188, 201, 288, 213, 258 - Mary, 281 - Woody
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Civil War Soldier Display 2nd August 2008!
by "Lord Robartes Regiment of Foote" at the Royal Oak Pub, Blisworth. Starting 12:45pm onwards.
Our first fundraiser in aid of the Sun Moon and Stars! We are pleased to secure members of the Sealed Knot Society "Lord Robartes Regiment of Foote" to help us raise money to help bring us one step nearer to seeing the ancient inn restored to its former glory! On the day there will be processions and demonstrations of manoeuvres by the soldiers, a bouncy castle, sumo suits, a quiz, food, beer, a raffle and table top stalls! At the end of the day we hope to see a fire engine demonstration as well (in a good way!). See soldiers of the civil war up close and personal for a great, educational, family day out! Organised activities let your children take part! Admission charge £2.50 adults, £1 children.
There will also be a displays detailing the history of the Sun, Moon and Stars, and project members will be there to answer your questions about the project!
Please come along, it would be really great to see you!
]]>We now have a grant for the Sun Moon and Stars project from the Architectural Heritage Fund. This means we can employ an architect, a structural engineer and a quantity surveyor. They will work with the trust to produce a report called an “Options Appraisal.”
We have also been offered an additional grant and ongoing advice and support from South Northants Council. They have also put us in touch with a mentor who has considerable experience of working in both a building preservation trust and local government. He is helping us to access all the background information needed to ensure that our final report fulfils all the requirements of the Architectural Heritage Fund.
The report must include information about;
The location, history, description and ownership of the building,
The importance of the building,
The conservation philosophy of the trust,
The planning context and why the building is at risk,
The condition and principal repairs required,
Options for re-use and principal alternations required,
A market analysis in relation to potential future use,
The preferred scheme for the building and the likely benefits,
Project costs and valuations of the building,
Financial analysis and viability of any proposal,
Long term management and financial implications.
At the moment we do not know what the preferred scheme will be. We have to do a lot of research over the next six months. However we are trying hard to ensure that the result is beneficial to the community.]]>
We began work in 2006 following the purchase of this interesting building by South Northants Council.
A former village inn beside the Grand Union Canal in Blisworth which is grade 2 listed and stands within the village conservation area.
It is currently in a very poor state of repair and will require major renovation.
Following a village meeting in September 2006 a steering group was formed.
Supported by South Northants Council and Blisworth Parish Council we have spent the last 12 months researching ways to bring this much-loved building back into community use.]]>
Questions and Answers
1. What did the steering group set out to achieve?
Initially to buy and run the re-development of the building as a village project offering a range of facilities for the benefit of the village and wider community. In order to achieve this we explored many sources of funding and made a range of applications.
2. What is the steering group trying to achieve now?
To date we have not been able to secure funding to achieve our original aim. We are now investigating working with a housing association or a developer. We are looking for a partner who will sympathetically restore the building offering part of it to the community. The intention of this meeting is to explain what has been achieved so far and to encourage discussion of any alternative options.
3. How would this community facility be financed?
It would include a commercial option housing a coffee shop / bistro which can also display items of interest covering the heritage and history of the area. We also hope to include I.T. facilities including internet access and photocopying and to offer training and help with historical research.
4. Is the village supporting this project?
As in most attempts to improve or renew country properties opinions vary. The majority of the village appear to behind the project and it is supported by Blisworth Parish Council and South Northants Council.
5. What impact might this project have on the village?
If we are successful in securing the majority of the building as affordable housing this will benefit local people, which can only be good.
A well-chosen range and display of local heritage material and the internet option to research local history would add a unique facility for local people. This could well result in more people visiting the village and hopefully also spending money in other businesses.
6. How might this project impact on other businesses in the village?
We believe a coffee shop / bistro would not impact on the local pub or the Chapel’s Tuesday coffee shop because of being located at the other end of the village and also delivering a totally different atmosphere and catering for a different clientele.
7. What effect might facilities offered in the Sun Moon and Stars have on the Village Hall , Chapel etc.?
As the facilities will be so different it seems unlikely there will be any problems and the influx of additional visitors will probably benefit them by widening the range of people aware of what they can offer.
8. What funding have the group raised?
Members of the steering group have funded the majority of the admin work themselves. As Blisworth Historic Buildings Trust we have also received a grant of £500 and we have several applications for funding still awaiting decisions.
9.Why have you formed a trust?
Our research suggested that the best way to find out how to restore the building and use it for the village would be to work with a charity called The Architectural Heritage Fund. To access the support and funding they offer we had to become a charitable trust.
An architectural options appraisal is under review funded to 75% by the Architectural Heritage Fund. The cost of this could be as much as £8,000 which means the village group has to find £2,000.
10. Have any alternative options and uses been suggested by villagers?
A range of ideas were offered in response to the questionnaires last year and those with general support are being actively considered.
An alternative option involving leaving the renovation to South Northants Council and a developer to take the project forward with no village involvement has been expressed informally by a small group.
11. What will happen after this meeting?
This is the best and probably the only opportunity for the village to influence the outcome of the re-development. That is what the steering group is endeavouring to do. The support of the village is needed to push forward this project in the best interest of the community. If the majority local opinion is not in favour of a village-led project then the project can be stopped and any money returned to the contributors.
12. Which developers might be involved in the project?
It is probably not appropriate to divulge the names of companies where discussions are taking place without giving them the option to comment. However a dialogue has taken place with a number of local developers and also with providers of affordable housing. Each of these has yet to send a formal proposal.
13. Can anyone join the steering group?
The steering group started from a show of hands at the initial public meeting. From that group various officers were appointed (Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary etc.). Since then some people have had to leave due to business or family commitments, others have joined. Any one who wishes to help the project is more that welcome to join or just come along to a project meeting.
14. Will a development like a café / bistro cause traffic problems?
Customers are likely to be split between arriving by road, on foot or via the canal. The convenience of a café / bistro in the village would be expected to win local custom that would enjoy the opportunity for an evening out without driving. Those who wish to drive can use the car park which is considered big enough to accommodate customer numbers. Narrowboaters would obviously moor locally and walk.
15. Will canal traffic be encouraged to use the facility?
Yes! We hope canal users will be encouraged to stop off and use the coffee shop / bistro.
We hope that this will greatly help raise the profile of Blisworth in the eyes of canal users. At present for the large majority of them Blisworth is just a tunnel. In fact we think many of them cannot understand why it is not known as the Stoke Bruerne tunnel!
Look in any ‘waterways’ books that are sold!
Apart from providing a much-needed service in the area, it will encourage the canal users to venture up the High Street and use the local shops.
16. If the building is sold to a developer what is likely to be the outcome?
Accommodation in the form of apartments as in the mill or a single occupancy dwelling with no community access.]]>