Restoration News Items

Restoration News

BBC Director General Formally Opens Restored Buildings
Date: 13th Jun 2008
The Director General of the BBC, Mark Thompson, an....click here for more.

BBC Director General Formally Opens Restored Buildings
Date: 13th Jun 2008
The Director General of the BBC, Mark Thompson, and Carole Souter, Chief Executive of the Heritage Lottery Fund, formally opened the restored buildings on Friday 13th June 2008.
Please visit www.kingsnorton.org.uk/photos/ for more photos.
please also see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/7452344.stm .
Restoration

Successful Medieval Extravaganza Held
A very successful Medieval Extravaganza was held o....click here for more.

Successful Medieval Extravaganza Held
A very successful Medieval Extravaganza was held on 14th June 2008, when many hundreds of people visited the newly re-opened restored buildings.
Please visit www.kingsnorton.org.uk/photos/ for more photos.
Restoration

BBC website - update on Restoration
Please visit the BBC website at http://www.bbc.co.....click here for more.

BBC website - update on Restoration
Please visit the BBC website at http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/content/articles/2008/01/11/restoration_winner_feature.shtml for the update on the re-opening of the restored buildings and links to the video diaries.
Also, please visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7452241.stm for a 4minute video - "The BBC's Sarah Campbell took a tour of the property with Barbara Hedgeland, one of the volunteers on the project"
Restoration - Dedication Service Held
Bishop David led a Service of Dediction for the ne....click here for more.

Restoration - Dedication Service Held
Bishop David led a Service of Dediction for the newly restored buidlings, in the courtyard on the evening of Thursday 5th June 2008.

The GKN Restoration Lectures
Historic Kings Norton in association with Newman C....click here for more.

The GKN Restoration Lectures
Historic Kings Norton in association with Newman College of Higher Education presents
The GKN Restoration Lectures
A unique series of ten lectures exploring how Kings Norton's rich and fascinating history fits into the wider context.

Cost: £8 per lecture.
Concessions £5 per lecture.
Series discount for all 10 - £60 (£40 concessions).
For further information please contact the Friends of Historic Kings Norton.

Sunday 17 February 2008
The Mysterious Old Grammar School by Stephen Price

Monday 10 March 2008
Thomas Hall: the man who Tamed Kings Norton by Denise Thomas

Monday 14 April 2008
Kings Norton: its place in its region, 1100 -1540 by Prof Chris Dyer

Monday 12 May 2008
Going to School in early Tudor England by Prof Nicholas Orme

Monday 9 June 2008
The church in the community in Medieval England by Prof Eamonn Duffy,

Monday 14 July 2008
Henrietta Maria, Kings Norton and the Civil War by Dr Richard Cust

Monday 8 September 2008
Birmingham, Kings Norton and the Poor Law by Dr Chris Upton

Monday 13 October 2008
From Frederick Street to Winson Green: the Birmingham women's suffrage campaign 1866-1918 by Elizabeth Crawford

Monday 10 November 2008
Beneath the buildings: the archaeology of the Saracen’s Head by Malcolm Hislop

Monday 8 December 2008
“In the name of the child” a hundred years of schooling in Birmingham by Prof Ian Grosvenor

[Details may be subject to change]
Attachment: GKNRestorationLectures_v3.pdf

Old Grammar School officially opened
Date: 15th Jan 2008
The Old Grammar School was officially opened on Ja....click here for more.

Old Grammar School officially opened
Date: 15th Jan 2008
The Old Grammar School was officially opened on January 15th by Mrs Betty Griffiths – with the Revd Thomas Hall in attendance. Thomas Hall was Kings Norton’s pastor from 1640-1662 and its schoolmaster for even longer. A remarkable man, he ensured that the Old Grammar School had a national reputation. It may even be that the parish brought the building together to house his library in gratitude for his long and faithful ministry. We still have to find out!

We were so pleased that Betty was able open the restored Old Grammar School. She is a cherished friend of all the parish’s churches and of many within its wider communities. Many will know just how passionate Betty’s son, John, was about the Old Grammar School. His enthusiasm and love, with that of many others, ensured that the building survived until we could restore it fully. John sadly didn’t live to see the building renewed, loved and cared for, ready for its new life and use, but Betty was on hand to begin the next stage in its history.

History student Steven Jinks from Newman College became Thomas Hall for the day. Stephen is on a six week placement with the project – and looked a fearsome figure indeed. Thomas Hall reminded all present about his loathing for long hair and said how pleased he was with the restoration of his school.

Work on the building continued until the last minute with the new path from the lych gate opened especially for the occasion. Simon Linford, from builders Linford-Bridgeman said: “It has been a real honour to help restore this historically significant building to its former glory. Our craftsmen have worked closely with the architects and historians to ensure a sensitive and accurate restoration of the whole building.”

Everyone involved has been working tirelessly for years to see these amazing buildings restored – a committed partnership between church and community on which we now have to build.

Come and see! There is limited opening from now until May, through booked tours by our volunteer guides on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10am and 11am. Please ring 0121 458 1223 to book your visit!
Restoration

St Nicolas Hall – sale and new beginning
“The St Nicolas Hall story will continue wonderful....click here for more.

St Nicolas Hall – sale and new beginning
“The St Nicolas Hall story will continue wonderfully in the Restored buildings”

St Nicolas Hall was built in the late 1950s. The parish needed much more than the then Saracen’s Head could offer so, led by the indomitable Revd Edward Ashford, church and community raised the money by huge prayer and effort, large and small. Sixty years on, the Hall has become very hard to run, in need of major refurbishment and no longer able to serve the very varied needs of our church and community. It has become sadly more costly to refurbish and adapt than to demolish and rebuild – and we do not have the resources for either.

The present St Nicolas Hall is a remarkable story of what church and community can do when working together in generosity and commitment, just like the earlier Saracen’s Head campaign, the building of St.Nicolas Church itself and its Victorian restoration and re-ordering.

Although we have no choice but to sell the St Nicolas Hall site this year and use the proceeds to complete Restoration and the new halls on the Saracen’s Head site, its story must not and will not be forgotten. The stunning new community facilities owe much more than many realise to the vision and generosity of Mr Ashford and those who gave so much to create the Hall. Without their gifts we would be unable to provide in effect a new St Nicolas Hall on The Green.

A planning application went in at the end of January for development of the Hall site for housing for older people. After the usual planning process and consultation, we expect to hear in May. The site will then be sold and all activities, with many new ones, will move to their home on The Green.

But the Hall’s place in the life of Kings Norton’s church and community does not end with its sale. The St Nicolas Hall story will continue wonderfully in the Restored buildings, alongside that of the astonishing Tudor House, the Saracen’s Head and the much earlier buildings on the site, all of which will be honoured as we begin a wholly new chapter in the story of this ancient place.

The foundation stone and Mr Ashford’s portrait will have their place in the new buildings – but we can do much more with the name, the story – and all that they represent in the life of Kings Norton and its parish church. Some have suggested that we actually use “St Nicolas Hall” for all or part of our new and restored building in Historic Kings Norton. What do you think? We really do want to know!

Rob Morris
Old Grammar School in local press
The Restoration work on the Old Grammar School has....click here for more.

Old Grammar School in local press
The Restoration work on the Old Grammar School has been reported in the local press

Birmingham Post article http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/birminghampost/news/tm_method=full%26objectid=20356678%26siteid=50002-name_page.html on 16 Jan 2008

Birmingham Mail article http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/mail/news/centralcity/tm_method=full%26objectid=20355925%26siteid=97319-name_page.html on 16 Jan 2008.
Old Grammar School on BBC website
The BBC Birmingham website has an artcle about the....click here for more.

Old Grammar School on BBC website
The BBC Birmingham website has an artcle about the Old Grammar School, with a 6 minute video of Canon Rob Morris and Project Director, Pauline Weaver, talikng about the Project and the re-opening.
Please see http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/content/articles/2008/01/11/restoration_winner_feature.shtml for more.

To see the video click http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/birmingham/realmedia/restoration_jan_08?size=16x9&bgc=C0C0C0&nbram=1&bbram=1 which will open in Real Player
Restoration Update - 19th March 2007
Date: 19th Mar 2007
At last we’ve moved from planning, designing, disc....click here for more.

Restoration Update - 19th March 2007
Date: 19th Mar 2007
At last we’ve moved from planning, designing, discussing and demolishing. Building is really happening. On 14th March, the first concrete was poured for the foundations of the new part of the project. There’s a new door in the 1492 part of the North Range where a long-closed original one once stood. Window work, final financial approvals, site set-up for the work on the Old Grammar School; all are in hand.

Tours start again in April on Saturdays and Wednesdays at 10am and 11am. The two Tudor buildings are only viewable from the outside – but there is an even older one which is more and more coming into its own as a place of worship, gathering, story and meeting for all.

Even those who have known St.Nicolas Church all their lives have something new to discover! Why not take a tour of church and building site to discover what it is.

Rob Morris
It’s all go! Project Report - November 2006
Date: 1st Dec 2006
November has been a momentous month. Work on site....click here for more.

It’s all go! Project Report - November 2006
Date: 1st Dec 2006
November has been a momentous month. Work on site began in earnest with removal of asbestos and the demolition of the South wing. The site now looks very different, not only due to the fencing surrounding it but because of the rarely seen views of the North and East ranges. Further consultative and investigative work will take place during December and the main construction works will commence in January! The invitation to tender has been issued. There has been a flurry of activity with contractors and subcontractors visiting site prior to submitting their responses. A decision will be made during December as to the successful contractor.

The annual Christmas Craft Fair, held in St.Nicolas Church, had an amazing atmosphere. Over thirty stalls filled the church selling everything from crystals to chocolate. Over £1400.00 was raised and many of the stall holders have booked for next year.

Even more work has gone on behind the scenes. The design team has continued to work on detailed design issues, including drainage, windows, doors and roof access and on the layout of the new retail area and storage. This has been dovetailed into the work on developing the retail policy and strategy including purchasing, range and pricing.

The establishment of the charitable company limited by guarantee has been another major focus with much debate taking place around the charitable objects. The project board has also spent time looking at the role of the trustees and the new visual identity, including feedback gained from discussion with the Hawkesley Youth Forum.

We are working hard on the programme for the reopening buildings with much training, research, grant raising and exploration of new ideas vigorously underway. Some members of the project team visited Polesworth Abbey to talk with them about their projects, in particular their education programme and how they established their charity. This was a very useful session and it is hoped will be the first of many.

The education group has been looking at the first drafts of the Rich and Poor People in Tudor Times resource pack which is progressing well and are continuing to work on other subject areas. The policy and strategy for education are being developed in parallel to the work on resources.

The heritage group is looking into links between John Baskerville and the Old Grammar School as well as trying to establish a clearer picture of the age of the building.

Our thanks to everyone who makes this so worth doing. If you want to be among them, whatever your skills or experience, please contact the Restoration Office or Parish Office.

Pauline Weaver and Rob Morris
Saracen’s Head & Old Grammar School get Green Light
Date: 1st Jun 2006
Another Restoration milestone! The project receive....click here for more.

Saracen’s Head & Old Grammar School get Green Light
Date: 1st Jun 2006
Another Restoration milestone! The project received planning permission in April . . . . and then, on 23rd May 2006, at last received final approval from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
 
 They hold the strings on the prize won in August 2004. After two years detailed development of our project by so many committed people, HLF are now ready to loosen those strings, release the grant – and let work begin. We have much detailed work to come. But HLF approval is the biggest step. Thank you – and well done – to all who have laboured away in so many different ways to bring us to this moment.
 
 We are still on course for both Restoration buildings to close in mid-July. After some more archaeology (please don’t find anything!) and site preparation, work can at last begin in September. If all goes well, the restored Old Grammar School will open in time for Kings Norton Festival 2007. The restored and renewed Saracen’s Head will follow around Christmas 2007 or in early 2008.
 
 The huge and ever-changing complexity of negotiation, development and submission of plans within an already lively programme of renewal in church and community has made it hard to keep in touch with all who want so much for the Project. But now we can. It is a little like coming into the sunlight after a long period of burrowing underground.
 
 To my fellow-moles, very deep and heart-felt gratitude. To all, please visit, ask and work with us. Do use this website & the Friends of Historic Kings Norton website www.historickingsnorton.org.uk). please come to our Open Meeting: Saturday 10th June at 10am in St.Nicolas Church – when we will reveal, explain and consult on all we are planning.
Restoration Update - April 2007
Date: 1st Apr 2007
At last we’ve moved from planning, designing, disc....click here for more.

Restoration Update - April 2007
Date: 1st Apr 2007
At last we’ve moved from planning, designing, discussing and demolishing. Building is really happening. On 14th March, the first concrete was poured for the foundations of the new part of the project. There’s a new door in the 1492 part of the North Range where a long-closed original one once stood. Window work, final financial approvals, site set-up for the work on the Old Grammar School; all are in hand.

Tours start again in April on Saturdays and Wednesdays at 10am and 11am. The two Tudor buildings are only viewable from the outside – but there is an even older one which is more and more coming into its own as a place of worship, gathering, story and meeting for all.
Even those who have known St.Nicolas Church all their lives have something new to discover! Why not take a tour of church and building site to discover what it is.
Work has begun - Restoration Winners Appoint Building Contractors
Date: 26th Feb 2007
Below is the press release: Birmingham’s winning B....click here for more.

Work has begun - Restoration Winners Appoint Building Contractors
Date: 26th Feb 2007
Below is the press release:
Birmingham’s winning BBC Restoration 2004 project has announced the appointment of Staffordshire-based building contractors Linford-Bridgeman Limited to carry out the £3.9 million construction work which started on February 12th.

Linford-Bridgeman Limited has a substantial track record in conservation and historic building restoration. Following detailed tender, Kings Norton Parochial Church Council (PCC), the owners of the Saracen’s Head and Old Grammar School, awarded them the contract to complete this landmark project. The architects are the Birmingham-based APEC, responsible for the redevelopment of St Martin in the Bullring and many other significant projects. With the specialist knowledge now on board from APEC, and Linford’s conservation and restoration knowledge, the Restoration 2004 winners are confident they have the right team in place to complete the work sensitively and effectively.

Canon Rob Morris, Kings Norton Team Rector, says: “As BBC TWO Restoration winners, we’re delighted to commence the main building work which the programme did so much to encourage. Project volunteers and our project team have worked so hard over the last three years to ensure that everything is done to the high standard which these buildings, our local community and our city deserve. We’ve worked closely and gratefully with the Heritage Lottery Fund, English Heritage, Birmingham City Council, The Restoration Fund and the Wildlife Trust and have an excellent team of professionals willing to go the extra mile.”

Linford-Bridgeman Limited, based in Staffordshire, has been the appointed building contractor for many restoration projects nationwide. The restoration and building work in Kings Norton is expected to be completed by June 2008.

For PR enquiries please contact Gemma Richards via the contacts page.

November 2006 – Buildings Fully Closed And Work Begins On Site
Date: 22nd Nov 2006
The fencing goes up and the building is now comple....click here for more.

November 2006 – Buildings Fully Closed And Work Begins On Site
Date: 22nd Nov 2006
The fencing goes up and the building is now completely closed. The demolition contractors are now on site and work has begun to carefully take down the South wing and the toilet block.
Restoration

October 2006 – Bats Re-homed
Date: 22nd Nov 2006
People from across Kings Norton came together to h....click here for more.

October 2006 – Bats Re-homed
Date: 22nd Nov 2006
People from across Kings Norton came together to help build bat boxes to go in the Churchyard. With help from volunteers and Kings Norton Local Nature Reserve over thirty six boxes were produced to provide homes for our bats. Four species of bats have been found in residence in our buildings the Common Pipistrelle, the Soprano Pipistrelle, the Brown Long Earred Bat and the Natterer’s Bat.
Claire Wilmer, ecological consultant, says: “It's fantastic to find four of the seventeen types of British bat in such a thriving part of Birmingham. It makes the restoration of the Saracen's Head and Old Grammar School even more important. We have been working closely with the Kings Norton PCC to ensure bats can use the buildings for many years to come.”
September 2006 - Archaeologists On Site
Date: 22nd Nov 2006
A specialist team of archaeologists from Birmingha....click here for more.

September 2006 - Archaeologists On Site
Date: 22nd Nov 2006
A specialist team of archaeologists from Birmingham University were on site working in the courtyard and in front of the Saracen’s Head. They worked to painstakingly remove paviers, layers of soil and cobbles to see what lay hidden beneath. Once the results have been analysed the Restoration Project Team will be able to discover more about the heritage of the site but amongst the initial findings were:

Five thirteenth century post holes
A thirteenth century oven
A sill wall in line with the building with a thirteenth century beam slot
The courtyard has evidence of cobbled thirteenth and fourteenth century surfaces
Potter, cooking pots etc from the thirteenth century

Restoration News Page
Below are 17 items of Restoration News.

Please also visit the Friends of Historic Kings Norton to find out more about the Restoration Project

For the Project Director's August 2005 report click here.

For the Project Director's November 2005 report click here.