Old House Project mini working party

Old House Project mini working party

get hands-on and help maintain a building at risk

Date: 
25/11/2019 - 26/11/2019
Audience: 
Introductory CPD, General interest,
Location: 
SPAB Old House Project
Boarley Lane,
ME14 3BU, MAIDSTONE
Kent
United Kingdom
Price: 

Free: lunch and accomodation offered

Event details

25 & 26 November 2019 starting at 09.00

We've closed this event now for volunteer sign ups now - thank you to everyone who was interested in coming along. We welcome people to pop by during the working party to see what is going on, especially if you have local knowledge of the building.

Please note that the OHP house will be open both days (9.30am to 4.00pm) for guided tours, talks on its history and our recent findings.  Should you know details of its history or know of people that remember it past uses, then please come along and visit with no obligation at all to get your hands dirty.

Should you be interested to help as a SPAB Working Party Volunteer then the Working Party will start on Monday morning with a briefing at 9.00am sharp. At 9.30am everyone volunteering will be organised into one of the following working groups:

  1. Garden clearance
    - Lead specialist: Billy, Paul and Lewis Beale of Beales Fencing & Paving 

  2. Ivy removal
    - Lead specialist: Jonny Garlick, SPAB

  3. Outbuilding archaeological
     - Lead specialist: SPAB

  4. Roofing survey and repair
    - Lead specialists: Kristian Foster of Malcolm Fryer Architects & Wayne Wills of Ashford and Cranbrook Roofing 

  5. Propping of west wall
    - Lead specialists: Peter Egan of 36 Engineers Regiment
     & Justin McAteer of Hockley and Dawson Consulting Engineers

  6. Heating the building and infra red survey
    - Lead specialists: SPAB and Paul Mallion of Conker Conservation Ltd 

  7. XRF Paint and surface finishes analysis - Hesaan Sheridan of Heritage Testing Ltd

There will be tea breaks and a free simple BBQ lunch provided for volunteers and specialists during the day and we will look to finish work on site at 5.30 with the Infra Red Survey and debrief.

Once the site is tidy everyone is welcome to join us at the local pub for 6pm to have a drink and meal (at your cost).  For those that are staying overnight and hope to help out on Tuesday 26th November as well we can arrange local accommodation if needed.

On Tuesday 26th November we will return to St Andrew's Chapel for a briefing again at 9am and Volunteers will be given instructions on which Working Party Group to join and what needs finishing.

Again tea breaks and simple lunch will be provided during the Tuesday and we hope to pack away and leave the OHP site tidy at 3.30pm.

Finally with regard to Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) we will have specialists on site to work the mechanical tools and cutting equipment so as a volunteer you will be using only hand tools and therefore will need the following:

  • Work clothes (please dress warmly and expect wet weather)

  • Warm hat

  • Site boots (Ideally steel toe capped)

  • Site or gardening gloves

  • Safety Specs

  • Secateurs

  • Loppers

  • Garden rake 

The SPAB will supply the following PPE:

  • Hi-viz tabard

  • Hard hat as required

  • Dust mask

We hope you can make the SPAB's OHP mini Working Party even if it is just to visit and learn about this wonderful old building and ancient site. 

CPD certificates available on request for those taking part as part of their continuing professional development.

Booking Terms & Conditions

Accessibility: Uneven ground and very overgrown site likely restrict access for some, as may the physical nature of this event. Please contact the SPAB before booking to discuss any special access requirements: 020 7456 0901.

 

Getting here