Courses - Conserving and Renovating Buildings within the Weald Forest Ridge Area

The Weald Forest Ridge Landscape Partnership has been formed to resurrect the once well-known Weald Forest Ridge name and celebrate the area’s local distinctiveness. The Ridge runs east to west from Tonbirdge to Horsham. The Partnership is committed to delivering a three year Scheme, from 2009 to 2011. The scheme aims to give people the knowledge and skills to protect and enhance the special features of the area so that people can continue to enjoy them in the future. The work is being funded by contributions of over £1.3million, in both financial and in-kind contributions by the delivery partners and a £2 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The Weald & Downland Open Air Museum is pleased to be one of the delivery partners.

As part of the project in 2009, the Museum provided a series of specialist courses in conserving and renovating the distinctive tile hung, weather-boarded and half timbered houses of the area as well teaching how to conserve the historic ironwork which is a legacy from the areas past as a centre of iron production in Roman and Tudor times. These courses will be repeated this September, and this year we have added two further courses on practical scarf repairs to timber buildings, and an introduction to the repair of historic brickwork.

The landscape of the Forest Ridge has been shaped by its inhabitants over hundreds of years. Nowadays 325,000 people live within the Ridge and its eight neighbouring towns (Horsham, Crawley, Haywards Heath, East Grinstead, Crowborough, Uckfield, Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge). The Partnership aims to enable people to more easily access and enjoy the area, learn about its unique heritage and take part in caring for and enhancing the distinctive natural and built features that make the Weald Forest Ridge a special place to be.

For further information on the many other projects that are taking place as part of the scheme visit our website at www.highweald.org  or call Simon Aguss on 01580 879500

If you live or work in the Weald Forest Ridge area you qualify for a reduced course fee (£40 for one-day courses and £80 for two-day courses). To see whether you qualify for the discount please telephone 01243 811931.

AN INTRODUCTION TO TIMBER-FRAMED BUILDINGS AND THEIR CONSERVATION

14 September 2010

Using the Museum’s buildings as examples, this day will look at the construction of timber-framed buildings, and consider methods of their conservation and repair.

Leaders: Richard Harris & Roger Champion
Course fee:£95

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CONSERVATION OF IRONWORK

16 September 2010

An introduction to the history and conservation of historic ironwork with special focus on the ironwork of medieval churches. The day will examine the causes of failure, methods of conservation, repair and replication.

Leader: Geoff Wallis
Course fee: £95

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AN INTRODUCTION TO THE CONSERVATION OF WEATHER-BOARDED & TILE-HUNG BUILDINGS

29 September 2010

A day of lectures, tours and practical demonstrations exploring the historical background behind the prevalence of weatherboarded, tile-hung houses in the area, and methods for the conservation of these historic features.

Leaders: David Martin & Joe Thompson
Course fee: £95

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REPAIRS TO HISTORIC BRICKWORK

Thursday-Friday 30 September-1 October 2010

Two practical days focusing on repairing historic brickwork, with an emphasis on the brickwork of the south east of England.  The course will include the use of lime mortars, bricks, causes of failure and decay, different repair techniques, and will touch on the cleaning of brickwork.  A day aimed at both homeowners and professionals, giving a practical introduction to the subject.

Leader: Gerard Lynch
Course fee: £190

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PRACTICAL SCARF REPAIRS

Wednesday-Thursday 6-7 October 2010

An introduction to the different types of scarfs and the tools and techniques used when scarfing new oak on to old.  These scarf joints are typically used for the repair of sole plates, bay posts, studs, rafters and tie beams.  This course is very appropriate for those looking after historic timber framed buildings in the Weald Forest Ridge region, and is an excellent opportunity to discover how these important repair methods can be applied.

Leader: Joe Thompson
Course fee: £190