Issue 41 Spring web - Flipbook - Page 47
provide additional exhibition and storage space for the
Museum, and a venue and performance space for various
high quality cultural events - concerts, organ recitals
and workshops, lectures, drama and other community
meetings. We expect to hold a small number of “festival”
services and - if requested - funerals, christenings and
weddings. In preserving the heritage of the chapel, the
original first floor gallery, the dado-height wall panelling,
two of the original pews, the pulpit and communion rail
and the organ will all be retained and restored - keeping
the chapel-like look and “feel” of the building. The building will be energy efficient, with heating from air-source
heat pumps, photovoltaic roof panels and high level
insulation. To service this new combined Museum and
Heritage Centre, we will erect a timber framed visitor
centre on the ground behind the Chapel, currently our
small carpark. The visitor centre will provide reception
and ticket sales, toilets, a shop and small cafe and meeting
space, and -possibly - a separate “Changing Places
Facility”. We will provide a (larger) car park nearby, and
are currently exploring two possible options for its siting
with neighbouring land owners. The proposals have the
written support from the AONB, local schools and owners and managers of other visitor facilities and village halls.
70,000 records and provides a genealogical search service
for people seeking to uncover their Weardale roots. The
service is free, but attracts donations from its users, many
from overseas.
From the outset the Museum was a tenant of the Chapel
and the two have always been closely interconnected. By
agreement with the Chapel fellowship, visiting groups
could also see the Chapel, with a guided tour and talk,
and - on occasion- sing their favourite Wesley hymns
accompanied by the splendid Vincent organ. The Chapel
also afforded us meeting space, simple kitchen facilities,
storage and space to create new exhibitions. In 2018 the
Chapel fellowship recognised that they could no longer
afford the significant repair costs in particular to deal with
the extensive damp and dry rot. The decision was made
to close the Chapel as a place of worship, and the Museum was given notice to quit. After several months of
consideration the Museum Trustees purchased the
Chapel. The existing body of Trustees was dissolved, and
a new Charitable Incorporated Organisation established
with the current Trustees. Our plans for the combined
premises are exciting and ambitious and - we believe achievable.
We have obtained both planning and listed building
consent for our proposals and a full team of conservation
specialists engaged. The Chapel will be restored, and
In parallel with these plans we are seeking to create a
significant flagship project to attract worldwide notice and
draw visitors to our part of the county - the Methodist
Above, chapel floor
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Conservation & Heritage Journal
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