Restoration & Repurposing
In February 2018 the Methodist Fellowship embarked on a process leading to the closure and disposal of the adjacent High House Chapel. This led to the Museum Trustees formulating a five-year development plan which included purchasing the Chapel to create The Weardale Museum & Heritage Centre, expanding their collections and social impact to benefit the Weardale population and the wider diaspora. The trustees aim all year opening and visitors rising to c.20,000 p.a., alongside more engagement with our digital provision, and recognising that an inclusive and effective activity programme will be needed to achieve and sustain this. The Methodist Fellowship closed the adjacent Chapel in September 2019 and ownership of the grade 2 listed building transferred to the Museum in June 2020.
As a keystone of the museum’s development plan the acquisition of the Chapel will allow us to improve physical and intellectual access to the collection, improve our conservation and curatorial practices, and encourage interaction with an expanded range of stories told and explored by a wider variety of people. This will necessitate adaptations to the building, creating level access to an exhibition and events venue for music, drama and the arts. Currently there are no visitor facilities so we will commission a new, low impact structure in the grounds to provide reception, sales, refreshments and toilets, plus an adjoining Changing Place Facility, publicly accessible “out of hours” via RADAR key. Car parking will be located nearby and include disability spaces and two EVCPs. Restoration works are costed as circa £750,000 plus similar figure for adaptations and creation of performance and exhibition areas.
