Waverley Borough Council is delighted to announce that the conservation and repair works at The Museum of Farnham will start soon, ensuring the preservation of its historic facade while minimizing disruption to the community.
The project is due to start 6 January 2025 and has been designed to maintain the museum's operations throughout the duration of the repairs. A team of highly experienced specialists, including brickwork, joinery, and leadwork conservators, will begin the painstaking work of dismantling the parapet wall and damaged brickwork with new handmade bricks being manufactured.
A new scaffold will be erected to fully enclose the museum's front facade, including a temporary roof. This structure, designed by a specialist structural engineer, will create a protected environment necessary for the conservation and repair work. The scaffold is independent of the historic building, ensuring no damage to the structure and maintaining access for residents and businesses on Bishop’s Mead and West Street.
The project is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and a Museum Estate and Development grant secured through Arts Council England, alongside contributions from Waverley Borough Council, Farnham Town Council and the Farnham and District Museum Society. The works are expected to finish in 2026, with the scaffolding remaining up for the entire duration.
In addition to the brickwork repairs, the original timber sash windows dating from 1718 will be restored with other works including cleaning and repairing the leadwork, guttering, and downpipes, and removing modern paint coatings from the Portland stone windowsills and entrance door case to expose the original stone surfaces.
Councillor Kika Mirylees, Waverley Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Community Services, Leisure and EDI, said: "We are so happy that this work is now starting and that the historic integrity of this beautiful building will be preserved for the community. This project is a testament to our dedication to maintaining our heritage sites for future generations and we are working hard with partners to ensure any disruption to the local community is kept to a minimum."
Councillor Mark Merryweather, Waverley Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Finance, Assets and Property, added: “This is fantastic news for Farnham, as Willmer House is one of the nation’s most important historic buildings. Conservation projects such as this on a Grade 1 Listed Building are unique and we are grateful that, with funding from The Arts Council and National Lottery Heritage Fund, along with our own contribution, we can ensure that the building remains an important part of the town. I would like to thank the dedicated council officers that have worked so hard to get this project to fruition.”
Peter Glanville, CEO of Farnham Maltings, said: “I’m thrilled this vital restoration work is getting underway – to have the façade of Willmer House back to its original glory will be an historic moment for the life of the Museum of Farnham. It’s really going to enhance the profile of the Museum and support our ambitions for the work we wish to deliver to communities across the borough and beyond, supported by Waverley Borough Council.’’
Photograph courtesy of Graham Abrey