PAST PRESENT FUTURE

The Newsletter of West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust and Worcestershire Building Preservation Trust ______SPRING 2016

From LYE AND WOLLESCOTE CEMETERY CHAPELS to THE THOMAS ROBINSON BUILDING 2003 to 2016 A SPECIAL EDITION TO CELEBRATE THE COMPLETION OF THE WEST MIDLANDS HISTORIC BUILDINGS TRUST PROJECT ______Company Offices: Adam House, Birmingham Road, Kidderminster, Stourbridge DY10 2SH Registered Company No. 1876294 Registered Charity No. 516158 VAT Registration No. 669 8183 73

WMHBT & WBPT SPRING 2016 Page 1 LYE & WOLLESCOTE We were also there to celebrate the CEMETERY CHAPELS: completion of a Community Asset CELEBRATION EVENT: Transfer project, which saw this 3rd MARCH 2016 unused heritage building switched from local authority to community ownership: the building now has a On the 3rd March 2016, around 70 secure future and the West Midlands West Midlands Historic Buildings Historic Buildings Trust has a regular Trust members and invited guests income stream to help make it more gathered at The Thomas Robinson resilient. Building (formerly Lye and Wollescote Cemetery Chapels), in John expressed grateful thanks to the presence of Dudley Metropolitan our funders namely The Heritage Borough Council’s Deputy Mayor, Lottery Fund, The Architectural Mohammed Hanif, to celebrate the Heritage Fund, Dudley Metropolitan completion of the Trust’s latest Borough Council, The William and project. Jane Morris Fund, The Owen Family Trust and The W A Cadbury Charitable Trust, without whom this project would not have happened, and he was delighted to introduce Sue Beardsmore representing the West Midlands Committee of The Heritage Lottery Fund, which had been the principal funder. Sue said:

“On behalf of The Heritage Lottery Fund I am thrilled to be here today, Trust Members and guests at the to celebrate with you the completion celebration on the 3rd March 2016 of the Cemetery Chapels restoration work at the fine Thomas Robinson The event was opened by the Trust’s Building. Acting Chairman, John Woodall, who welcomed guests with great pride to “We have been delighted to support the celebration of the completion of the West Midlands Historic Buildings the project. This was a community Trust in their imaginative project that project, involving a wide range of has not only saved these rare Grade partners, as well as a Building II listed Victorian chapels from Preservation Trust project, to which further deterioration but has also Trustees had given their time and breathed new life into them as a expertise freely over a period of 13 community facility, supported by years. Dudley Council”.

WMHBT & WBPT SPRING 2016 Page 2 Sue outlined the work of The described the history of the project Heritage Lottery Fund over more over 13 sometimes difficult and than 21 years and the wide variety of frustrating but ultimately triumphant projects which it had supported years. His account is not described during that time and added: in this article but edited versions of his reports from past Newsletters, “The project that we are celebrating together with other related articles today provides a fine example of the which have appeared, set out the breadth of The Heritage Lottery chronology of the project from Fund’s support. Our grants also help inception to completion. people to gain new skills by encouraging volunteers in all age Next, John introduced Adrian groups to come forward. This is true Mathias from Brownhill Hayward of your project with volunteers Brown who had been the project engaged in a variety of tasks and architect. Adrian described the valuable work experience provided various phases of the project starting for local college construction with the detailed surveys of the students”. building, to achieve a full understanding of the asset; the She offered her congratulations to detailing of the repairs and everyone involved in this project, alterations based on the results of and felt sure that “everyone here will the survey; and finally the contract agree that, with the evidence before itself and working with the project you today, their Lottery money is team to realise the shared being very well spent”. objectives.

He paid particular compliments to the highly experienced main contractors, Croft Building and Conservation Ltd., with their wide skill base and collaborative approach, and described it as a “wonderful project” and was “very proud” of what had been achieved.

P John finally introduced Sue Smith Project Organiser, David Trevis- who is the Secretary of the newly Smith, with Sue Beardsmore formed Friends of Lye and representing The Heritage Lottery Wollescote Cemetery. Sue Fund described how the Friends had been involved in clearing the Cemetery in order to improve its image and the John then introduced Project setting of the building and outlined Organiser, David Trevis-Smith, who some of the other works which the WMHBT & WBPT SPRING 2016 Page 3 Friends would like to achieve, ordinating our social media tweets; including the provision of benches Rufford Primary School; Thorns and bulb planting. Primary School; Redhill School; Old Swinford Hospital; Birmingham John concluded by expressing his Metropolitan (Stourbridge) College; grateful thanks to everyone who had Dudley Council; Stourbridge Area been involved in the project including Committee of Dudley Council; the Trustees; the funders as Dudley Council for Voluntary previously mentioned; Project Service; The new Friends of Lye & Organiser David Trevis-Smith and Wollescote Cemetery; and other his Associate, Tarnia McAlester, who neighbours and friends who have assisted David in the final delivery attended open days, taken part in stage; Croft Building and consultation events, and generally Conservation Ltd., the principal given us all encouragement to keep contractors; Nick Beacham, stained going for 13 years! glass window specialist; Paul Ashmore, metalworker; Brownhill He also thanked Danielle Saxon Hayward Brown, architects, and Reeves - local resident and particularly Project Architect, Adrian professional musician - for providing Mathias, assisted by Lauren Mintoft the music during the first part of the in the final delivery stage; Graham event, as a free of charge Hale & Company, quantity expression of support for the project surveyors; Hancock Wheeldon & on behalf of our neighbours. Ascough, structural engineers; Robertson Cartwright Design, mechanical and electrical engineers; BCA Project Services, health and safety consultants; Ian Parkin and Andrew Meredith, the overall coordinators of The Activity Plan; Jean Weston and Marlene Price, authors of two history books, two heritage trails, and two travelling exhibitions; Sue Pope, author of the new educational resources; Carolyn Healy, community facilitator; Nathaniel Healy, author of the cemetery maintenance plan; Paul Floyd, glass artist; David (Dj) Johnson, community artist; Michael Glass Artist, Paul Floyd, with one of Foster, graphic designer; MX the new windows created in Display, manufacturer of the association with local schools interpretation panels; Shirley Ochi, web master; Lizey Thomson, co- WMHBT & WBPT SPRING 2016 Page 4 John then invited guests to help themselves to the finger buffet lunch: VIEW FROM THE CHAIR to pick up the 2 heritage trail leaflets; to take a walk along the heritage trail It is a privilege to be providing this in the cemetery and the separate View from the Chair in this trail around the town; and to commemorative edition of “Past consider purchasing one or both of Present Future”. It has been a great the history books produced as part joy being involved in the of the project. He thanked everyone conservation and restoration to full for attending and hoped that they use of what was two cemetery enjoyed the rest of the celebration. chapels into what is now a very appealing venue for weddings, and civil and citizenship ceremonies.

Guests try out the new mezzanine floor and enjoy a close-up view of On 2nd April 2016 I was able to the roof structure and one of the congratulate and give the Trust’s restored original windows best wishes to the very first groom

twenty minutes before the first ever My only disappointment is that our wedding was due to take place in late Chairman and President, Alan what is now known as the Thomas Trevis Smith, was not with us to Robinson Building. I sincerely hope enjoy the fruits of his success in that Christopher Williams and his guiding the project through its earlier bride, Natalie, are enjoying their stages. The Trust is, however, married life together. (Front cover delighted that Alan’s widow, Sheila, picture by kind permission of maintains her links with the Trust Midland Photographic.) and that we were able to secure the services, as Project Organiser, of Alan’s son, David, whose I think Mr Robinson, the architect, contribution to the project has been would still be very proud of his wide-ranging and fundamental to its creation nearly a hundred and forty success. years after it was opened for its original purpose. Adrian Mathias, Nick Hogben. who was the architect overseeing WMHBT & WBPT SPRING 2016 Page 5 the conservation of the building, course, building conservation complemented Thomas Robinson’s contractors have worked over a long skills to oversee the metamorphosis period to deliver the result we have of the building from its former today. distressed and threatened state to this tribute to the original creativity We hope that our principal funders – and more recent commitment of the The Heritage Lottery Fund and many people who have brought it Architectural Heritage Fund about. All future ceremonies will supported by Dudley Council, the stand testament to the efforts and William and Jane Morris Fund, the dedication of the volunteers and Owen Family Trust and the WA professionals who have made the Cadbury Charitable Trust – are transformation possible. happy with the outcome of their support. The project has been about more than the building – a heritage trail in I was copied into an email from Jean the adjoining cemetery and separate Weston, one of the greatest trail around the town have been put contributors and enthusiasts of the in place and two history books have project, when she wrote to Andrew been written. A reinvigorated local Meredith, one of the co-ordinators of community is evident in the creation the Activity Plan: “Now that most of of a new Friends Group; school and the site has been cleared and the college students and apprentices chapels can be seen in all their have experienced heritage and splendour, I confess to feeling history; and craftsmen have somewhat emotional to have been exhibited and implemented their part of this renovation”. You speak skills. Our activity plan (the plan to for all of us at WMHBT, and a few ensure we engaged people – others, I think, Jean! especially locally) put people at the heart of the project. Local people John Woodall, Chairman benefited and learned about their heritage through the delivery of the THIS SPECIAL CELEBRATION ISSUE plan. OF OUR NEWSLETTER GIVES A HISTORY OF THE PROJECT, BASED Officers and members of Dudley ON THE REPORTS OF THE PROJECT Council have worked as partners in ORGANISER WHICH HAVE BEEN making one of the first examples of PUBLISHED IN OUR PREVIOUS Community Asset Transfer a NEWSLETTERS SINCE ITS FIRST success. A professional team of INCEPTION. THIS ACCOUNT IS INTERSPERSED WITH OTHER architects, quantity surveyors, REPORTS ON DIFFERENT ASPECTS lawyers, structural engineers, OF THE PROJECT PUBLISHED mechanical and electrical engineers, THROUGHOUT ITS COURSE. health and safety consultants and, of

WMHBT & WBPT SPRING 2016 Page 6 FROM LYE AND The Chapels were owned by Dudley Council and continued in use until WOLLESCOTE the early 1990s but were officially CEMETERY CHAPELS closed in 1993. No alternative use TO THE THOMAS had been identified and the building ROBINSON BUILDING was located at the entrance to an operational cemetery, making any alternative use difficult. The building was in deteriorating condition and During the 19th century cemeteries attracting vandalism and anti-social were designed to replicate activities. landscaped parks; at the entrance would be the portal combined with This was an emotive subject for the the gatekeeper’s lodge, the centre of local community and the costs of the graveyard would be usually repair and conversion were greater taken up by two Chapels, one for that the value of the restored Anglicans and one for Non- building. The building was, in any conformists, which were linked in event, consecrated, further some cases by a porte-cochere restricting possible uses and carrying a clock tower or turret. preventing its sale.

The Lye and Wollescote graveyard In 2003 an approach was made by and associated buildings generally Dudley Metropolitan Borough follow this classic layout, the Council (DMBC) to West Midlands Chapels building having been Historic Buildings Trust (WMHBT) for designed by Stourbridge architect, advice on how to secure a future for Thomas Robinson, and completed in the Chapels. Trustees recognised 1878. the importance of the building and recommended the appointment of conservation consultants to conduct an investigation into potential future uses and the costs of repair and conversion. However, the Trust was unable to assist further as the building was neither Statutorily Listed nor in a Conservation Area.

DMBC responded by submitting an application for Statutory Listing and

on 8th March 2005 the Secretary of State for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport declared the Lye

WMHBT & WBPT SPRING 2016 Page 7 and Wollescote Cemetery Chapel to convert for office use; convert into be Grade II Listed. residential accommodation; and convert for another use (such as a day nursery, undertakers, doctors’ surgery, dentists’ surgery, etc.) as might be determined by a specific user expressing an interest in the building.

Over 200 people visited the Chapels during Heritage Open Days on 9th and 10th September 2006 and many of those took part in the extensive public consultation which was undertaken before the Options Appraisal was finalised. The final This opened the way for an Options draft of the Options Appraisal report Appraisal and the WMHBT applied was then approved by the WMHBT to The Architectural Heritage Fund Trustees and the AHF in Autumn (AHF) for grant aid and to the 2007, and by a meeting of the Stourbridge Area Committee of Stourbridge Area Committee of DMBC for match-funding. Both grant DMBC in September. applications were approved, tenders received from specialist conservation architects and a contract placed with In September 2007, the AHF Brownhill Hayward Brown of approved grants to cover Lichfield for work to start on the 10th administration costs for the Project March 2006. Organiser to progress the project and, in particular, to invite tenders from conservation architects to begin designing the work required to repair and convert the building.

The design work continued into Spring 2008 and this included the preparation of applications for Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent, consulting with potential users of the building and preparation of a business plan. A public consultation event was held The Consultants’ initial proposals on Saturday 23rd February at the considered the viability of four future United Reformed Church, High use options: repair and retain the Street, Lye and then, on 31st March, building in its then current form; WMHBT & WBPT SPRING 2016 Page 8 the application to The Heritage chapels building and WMHBT’s Lottery Fund was submitted. relevant skills and experience”.

Although a major setback to the scheme, subsequent meetings of both the project steering group and trustees concluded that to abandon the project would be wrong, the heritage asset and potential benefit to the community being too important to allow the building to be lost.

In June 2008, the AHF agreed to offer WMHBT a working capital loan of £350,000 to help with cashflow during the period of the building contract, provided that the HLF approved the Trust’s grant application at its committee meeting in the following Autumn. An application could also then be made to the Worcester Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches for permission to change the use of the Anglican chapel and to remove the legal effects of consecration. Trustees therefore agreed to explore other ways of funding the project, one option being to split it into Planning Permission and Listed phases, with smaller grant Building Consent were granted for applications for each phase or, the proposed scheme and, after so alternatively, to find a community or much hard work by all involved, it voluntary sector user that might was therefore all the more either attract funding specific to that disappointing that the HLF turned use, or might strengthen a re- down the grant application at its application to the HLF. committee meeting in September 2008. The stated reason was due to “insufficient funds” and this was Following the earlier disappointment despite the fact that “the committee that the HLF grant application had recognised the significance of the been refused, the Trust was very pleased that additional grant had WMHBT & WBPT SPRING 2016 Page 9 been offered by the AHF and DMBC, Member of Parliament and to enable work to be carried out independent referee of the Trust’s aimed at finding an end-user when “Awards for All” grant application, repairs and works to convert the unveiled the new on-site interpretive building to modern-day office panel. standards had been completed; the end-user could be a commercial Income from book sales would organisation, although a community, contribute towards the WMHBT voluntary or public sector user might project to repair the Chapels building be preferable by holding the and convert it to a sustainable new potential to attract funding specific to use. Four guided public tours around that use as well as strengthening a headstones featured in the book, re-application to the HLF for a hosted by the book authors, were Heritage Grant. held during the year.

Meanwhile, the Trustees agreed to fund the creation of a website for this The Lye and Wollescote project, to help raise its profile and Cemetery Chapels: A support fundraising. They also Victorian Cemetery and decided to submit an application to its Notable Burials: Jean The Big Lottery Fund for an “Awards Weston and Marlene For All” grant to enable the publication of a history book about Price the cemetery, its chapels building, and historical links with the development of Lye as an industrial The Trust was delighted to see town and also an on-site that a review of this book, interpretation panel. researched and written by Jean and Marlene, and published and launched by the Trust in March The Trustees were delighted that a 2010, was included in APT News grant of £9,900 was agreed and the (the magazine of the UK book, “The Lye and Wollescote Association of Preservation Cemetery and Chapels: A Victorian Trusts) in Autumn 2010. Cemetery and its Notable Burials”, Extracts from the review are written by local historians and Trust quoted below and many members Jean Weston and Marlene congratulations are due to Jean Price, was launched at a special and Marlene and all of the team event held on 27th March at the involved in its preparation and Church Hall, Christ Church, Lye. publication.

“You would not have expected a Then, in May, a public open day was dry title such as this to yield held at the Cemetery when the Rt entertaining tales of competing Hon Lynda Waltho MP, local grave-diggers, attempts to use WMHBT & WBPT SPRING 2016 Page 10 gravestones for commercial In Spring 2011, having completed advertising or details of where the items funded by the ‘Awards for All’ ‘women’s lib’ movement really grant, the project steering group then began. Nor would you have thought such an ordered array of turned its attention back to the main relatively unadorned headstones aim of securing a new use for the could yield such intimate and Chapels building. Thanks to a lively insights into ‘frost cogs’, support programme initiated and led ‘hollowware’, ‘picklers’, and ‘tis- by DMBC, funding from the as-twassis’, but all of this and Development Trusts Association, via much more is to be found in this the “Advancing Assets” programme, entertaining and informative read, which literally brings the whole was obtained to enable the Trust to social and economic life of this work on identifying a potential tenant industrial community to life. or tenants, the key ingredient required to support funding “This book, some 20 years in the applications to the HLF and others to making, is yet another implement the proposed conversion demonstration of how a BPT – in this case the West Midlands scheme. Historic Buildings Trust – can take an innovative approach to a This programme encouraged local project and build so much more authorities to establish a strategy for into it. For apart from its intrinsic the transfer of assets to community social and genealogical interest, publication is intended to do three groups. Part of the Advancing things. Assets funding was available to support specialist work and, in this “First, it is promoting the case, it enabled the WMHBT to ambitions of the Trust to refurbish appoint a commercial agent, Lex the cemetery buildings to a new Allan in Stourbridge, in Spring 2011, sustainable use as offices. to produce a promotional leaflet and Second, its sale will raise funds to assist with the costs of to pursue meetings with prospective developing that scheme. Thirdly, tenants. in knitting together so vividly the intimate connections between the The Trust agreed that the vision for occupants of the cemetery and the building should be “a financially the past history and development of the town, the book forms a secure mixed commercial (or bridgehead to assuage local fears educational) and community use, – this is a sensitive location for a with a preference for a creative change of use. The promoters of industries related use”. the scheme demonstrate here that careful research can be a very creative method of outreach, In Summer 2011 a preferred tenant ensuring that the community is emerged and, on this basis, pre- fully engaged in its delivery.” application discussions were held with HLF and the Trust was invited Dr James Moir to submit a first-round Heritage WMHBT & WBPT SPRING 2016 Page 11 Grant application. Potential funding chapels, some of whom joined the to cover the cost of the necessary morning tour of the cemetery at preparatory work was identified and, 11 o’clock. subject to confirmation of that funding, work could begin on putting The afternoon tour at 2 p.m. was the HLF application together. also well supported and it seems that the new ‘History in the Unfortunately, the preferred tenant Headstones’ theme, devised for had a change of heart and withdrew 2012 and introduced in May this their proposal but, by Spring 2012, year, has proved to be very further expressions of interest were popular. In fact quite a few received from potential tenants for people who came on tours in the the Chapels building to support a previous two years have returned new bid for grant support from the for a second time. HLF.

Meanwhile on Saturday 8th September the chapels building was once again included in the annual Heritage Open Days initiative, with the building being open to the public and history book authors Jean Weston and Marlene Price providing guided tours of cemetery headstones, following the new route for 2012 first used in May this year.

Lye and Wollescote Gravestone of Charles Dickens – no, Cemetery and Chapels not that Charles Dickens but a timely Heritage Open Day reminder perhaps that 2012 saw the 8th September 2012 200th anniversary of his birth

One beneficial aspect of meeting people on these Open Days is that The weather was extremely kind frequently we have been given to us for the English Heritage useful information about local Open Day held on Saturday the people, adding to our knowledge 8th of September which, no doubt, of the cemetery and its history. went some way to account for the In return we have been pleased to good attendance. A strong assist several people with contingent from the local Bethel locating the graves of their Chapel arrived to look at the relatives. WMHBT & WBPT SPRING 2016 Page 12 We are now actively working to 2013. There follows a copy of the complete a project, begun in 2008, media release which was issued to produce a photographic record on that date. of all existing headstones in the cemetery and, in addition, have LANDMARK BUILDING WINS other new ideas in the pipeline, in HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND particular looking ahead to 2014 SUPPORT and the centenary of the Great The West Midlands Historic War. Buildings Trust has received initial support from the HLF for Jean Weston & Marlene Price the Lye and Wollescote Chapels building conservation project, it was announced today. The project At the end of 2012, the Trust heard aims to repair the rare redundant that the HLF had approved a grant to listed building in Cemetery Road, develop detailed proposals as the Lye – comprised of identical basis for a second-round application Anglican and Non-conformist later this year. chapels - and bring them back into sustainable community Feedback from HLF officers was that and commercial use. the West Midlands committee liked the proposed scheme, it was Development funding of approved as a high priority project £42,300 has been awarded to and it was appreciated that, despite help the West Midlands Historic disappointment with a previous Buildings Trust progress their approach to HLF, people involved plans to apply for a full grant of with this project had continued to just under £850,000 at a later progress matters as much as date. Provided that the full grant possible. is awarded in due course, the Trust hopes to carry out the necessary building work in Lye a nd Wollescote 2014 in what is estimated will be Cemetery Chapels Project a £1.15 million scheme.

Grant Success In addition an educational programme is to be planned, to enable people to understand more about the heritage importance of The Trust is delighted to inform the chapels building and the Members that the West Midlands associated cemetery, with the Historic Buildings Trust has been intention to provide opportunities awarded Heritage Lottery Fund for local people and schools to Grant aid for the development of get involved. A project website the Lye and Wollescote Cemetery will also be developed, providing Chapels Project on 10th January on-line public access to WMHBT & WBPT SPRING 2016 Page 13 information about the building, its arranged by Brownhill Hayward history and the conservation Brown. Specialist consultants Parkin project. Heritage and Tourism assisted the

Trust in preparing an action plan for Chairman of the West Midlands activities designed to encourage and Historic Buildings Trust Bob provide opportunities for people to Tolley said: “We’re delighted that get involved and to learn more of the The Heritage Lottery Fund has social history associated with this given us this support and really building. excited to be involved with saving this building because it means so much to local people. It is not Lye and Wollescote only a place of great historical Cemetery Chapels: importance, it is also a lovely Celebration!!! quiet place where the local

community can escape the daily hustle and bustle. Thanks are due to many people who have worked The Trust was delighted to learn with tireless enthusiasm over that it been successful in its bid to many years in order to reach this HLF for grant aid towards the cost point”. of the Chapels project. Reproduced below is the press Reyahn King, Head of The release which was issued by the Heritage Lottery Fund for HLF on 11th September 2013. the West Midlands, said: “We’re extremely pleased to give initial LOTTERY CASH TO BRING support to this project, which NEW LIFE TO LANDMARK aims to bring to life these rare BUILDING Chapels so that they may benefit the community once more. We The West Midlands Historic shall watch the developing plans Buildings Trust has received a with interest”. confirmed grant of £1,025,000 from the HLF for the Lye and During Spring 2013, detailed Wollescote Cemetery Chapels proposals to be used as the basis for building conservation project. The a second-round application to HLF £1.15 million scheme aims to continued to be developed. Grant repair the unusual building in bids were prepared and submitted, Cemetery Road, Lye - comprised to attract funding for the delivery of identical Anglican and non- phase that would be needed to conformist chapels - and bring match that from HLF. Site them back into sustainable investigation surveys, such as community and commercial use. building condition, mains services, The Trust expects to carry out the drainage, ecology and trees, were WMHBT & WBPT SPRING 2016 Page 14 necessary building repairs and chapels, closed for at least 20 conversion work in 2014. years. This is an excellent project Based on consultations during demonstrating how lottery work to develop plans for the funding can bring derelict project, learning and heritage- buildings back into sustainable based activities will be introduced use for the greater benefit of the as part of the refurbishment work community”. and will continue after the building works are complete. Councillor Pete Lowe, deputy Planned trails around the leader at Dudley Council and cemetery, booklets, display cabinet member for finance, said: materials, schools resources and "We are delighted that funding a website are amongst the list of has been secured through The activities to be introduced, to Heritage Lottery Fund to move provide print based and on-line this exciting project forward. I public access to information have visited the cemetery chapels about the building, its history and on many occasions and through the conservation project. our partnership with the West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust Chairman of the West Midlands and HLF we now look forward to a Historic Buildings Trust, Bob bright future for this locally Tolley, said: "We're thrilled that significant building”. The Heritage Lottery Fund has given us this support and excited Margot James, MP for to be able to deliver our scheme Stourbridge, said: "I am delighted to save this important building that the West Midlands Historic because it means so much to Buildings Trust is receiving over local people. It has been a focus £1 million from The Heritage for the Trust for a number of years Lottery Fund. The Chapels are a and that we are now able to bring treasured local landmark and we our plans to fruition is testament should commend the Trust on to the hard work and dedication of their hard work in securing this many people, not least our late funding”. Chairman Alan Smith MBE”. After ten years of patient work and Reyahn King, Head of The campaigning by the West Midlands Heritage Lottery Fund for the Historic Buildings Trust, it is fantastic West Midlands, said: "We are that the Chapels project has delighted to award this grant, received a second round grant which will enable the restoration award from the HLF, with of two rare, and remarkably 'permission to start' imminent. This is complete, Grade II listed identical very exciting news and made more Anglican and Non-Conformist so with Dudley MBC transferring

WMHBT & WBPT SPRING 2016 Page 15 ownership of the Chapels to STOURBRIDGE SAYS ‘I DO’ TO WMHBT on 31st March 2014, NEW CIVIL CEREMONY VENUE enabling the Trust the freedom to deliver this important project. Dudley Council has today (April 15th) announced that the borough We are now in a position to appoint is to welcome a second the team of consultants to deliver the registration office, in the grade II project, including an interpretation listed Lye and Wollescote Chapel. designer to provide innovative and memorable interpretation which To bring the redundant nineteenth celebrates the architectural century Stourbridge chapels back importance of the cemetery chapels into use, the council has sold the and the history and heritage of the derelict building to regional cemetery, the people who are buried building preservation charity The there and their contribution to the West Midlands Historic Buildings history of Lye and Wollescote. Trust.

The interpretation also aims to The not-for-profit organisation will create an attractive World War I refurbish the building, on illustrated publication telling the story Cemetery Road in Lye, thanks to a of 29 local soldiers who were killed £1m grant from The Heritage in action and a complementary WWI Lottery Fund. It is planned that the interpretive exhibition which is building will then be leased back demountable and can be displayed to Dudley Council for use as a in various venues including Lye registration office for marriages, Library, Dudley Archives, schools, citizenship ceremonies, naming community centres, care homes etc.. ceremonies, civil partnership ceremonies and wedding vow A history trail around the cemetery renewals. and town, interpretive panels, an upgraded website, a downloadable Duncan Lowndes, assistant activity based educational resource director of culture and leisure at and the establishment of social Dudley Council, said: “The media in the form of Facebook and current building is derelict and Twitter, will also be sculpted to unusable and I am delighted that further explain the importance of this we have found a way to bring this historic site. beautiful landmark building back into public use at little cost to the public purse. This will allow the Lye a nd Wollescote council to provide a unique and Cemetery Chapels Press stunning ceremony venue in the Release south of the borough, while

WMHBT & WBPT SPRING 2016 Page 16 preserving a slice of local By Autumn 2014, the design team history”. had completed the detailed design work and tenders were invited from Bob Tolley, chairman of The West building contractors with the skills Midlands Historic Buildings Trust, and experience to tackle historic added: “The important thing is building conservation work of this that we will not just preserve, but type. conserve this amazing building and put it to a sustainable new Meanwhile much work was done to use. We are pleased to receive appoint people to specialist roles money from The Heritage Lottery involved with delivering heritage- Fund and excited to be able to related activities that are part and save this building for the local parcel of this project, lead by community”. heritage activities consultants Ian Parkin and Andrew Meredith. Lye and Wollescote Chapel is a rare surviving example of a An early appointment was The cemetery chapel that was Maltings Partnership to assist with designed to incorporate two the design and printing of the new chapels, which were for book by Jean Weston and Marlene conformist and non-conformist Price: “The Lost Twenty-Nine”, Christian denominations, within a remembering soldiers of the First single building. In its new use World War buried and one of the chapels will be used as commemorated in the Lye and an administration office, where Wollescote Cemetery. people can register births, deaths and give notice of marriage and Thanks to extensive research by civil partnership. The other Jean and Marlene and dedication to chapel will be used as the the task, the book was published ceremony room. and very well received at a launch event on 20th September. Subject to Planning Permission and other necessary consents, Other recent appointments had been the addition of this facility, which educationalist Sue Pope, glass artist is expected to open in April 2015, Paul Floyd and murals artist David would double the number of Johnson, all of whom were ceremony venues in the Dudley commissioned to work with schools: borough. Sue on producing educational resources, Paul on the design of The existing venue, grade II listed new stained glass windows and Priory Hall, is located near to David on producing murals for the Dudley town centre. hoardings around the building site.

WMHBT & WBPT SPRING 2016 Page 17 The Lost Twenty -Nine Cemetery and fourteen others killed in action abroad whose names appear on family graves, include a family’s search for a lieutenant missing on the Somme, A new book has been published a Shropshire Grenadier telling the moving stories of Guardsman who is twenty nine local men who lost commemorated in the Cemetery, their lives in the Great War and the hero Private who volunteered who are buried or commemorated when ammunition was low, and in The Lye and Wollescote the tragic death of a young VAD Cemetery. nurse caring for the wounded in a local military hospital.

With detailed research and evocative imagery this fully illustrated book recounts vividly the impact of a devastating war which began a century ago and is remembered poignantly today. In addition, an interpretive exhibition to complement the publication

has been created which is demountable and is available for display in suitable venues.

Bob Tolley, Chairman of WMHBT, opened the launch and introduced A special event was held on the first guest speaker, Lieutenant Saturday the 20th September 2014 Colonel (retired) Keith Jeavons, at Christ Church, Lye, to mark the who served in the Worcestershire launch of this World War I Territorials and was with the army Centenary book, written by local for many years, having a long historians and authors, Jean standing connection with Weston and Marlene Price. It has Stourbridge. been published by the Trust and is seen as an important milestone He started with many poignant in The Lye and Wollescote thoughts about the Great War: Cemetery Chapels project. nd “In 1914 the 2 Battalion The stories of the twenty nine Worcestershire Regiment were on men, fifteen of whom are buried in their way to training camp in Commonwealth War Graves in the Minehead... all piling onto a train WMHBT & WBPT SPRING 2016 Page 18 thinking of a fortnight’s holiday by At the end of 2014, the Trust the sea... having joined, as they received the bad news that tender do now, because their mates had prices were over-budget but, thanks joined. Those lads didn't know to a thorough analysis by the design where they were going. Try and team and some refinements to the picture how they felt. Some of specification, a way was found to them never came back”. balance the books. Approval was obtained from The Heritage Lottery David Owen OBE, a Trustee of the Fund and the building contract was Black Country Living Museum, let with Croft Building and was the second guest speaker Conservation Ltd.. Work was and said: scheduled to start on site in March 2015, with completion by Christmas. “The Lost Twenty Nine, each one special, gave up family and Meanwhile work continued with friends and lives that had hardly delivering heritage-related activities started, so that we might live our that are part and parcel of this own lives today in freedom from project, the latest addition to the the tyranny which could have team being Carolyn Healy, in the overtaken us. The authors, Jean role of Community Facilitator, Weston and Marlene Price, have primarily to establish a new “Friends worked so hard to give us a book of Lye and Wollescote Cemetery” to constantly remember those group. brave men, and the whole context of how this terrible war started, More than 40 heritage-related and how they responded to the activities were being prepared, in call "Your Country Needs You". addition to the new book and Friends group. Other activities included project work by school pupils to create murals to attach to the site hoarding during the building works

and school pupils and college students creating new coloured glass windows to augment existing plain glass in the chapels.

The Superintendent’s Lodge served a useful purpose as site office during the building contract, at the end of Authors Marlene Price and Jean which the Trust would seek a new Weston at the book launch with residential tenant. Project Architect Adrian Mathias

WMHBT & WBPT SPRING 2016 Page 19 Outdoor Art vibrant paintings celebrating the Gallery At The buildings. These have now been Cemetery Chapels installed facing into the cemetery forming a temporary outdoor gallery.

Primary School children from Alice Middleton, Headteacher of around the Lye area have created Rufford Primary School said: “As large colourful paintings inspired Lye residents, the children are by both the former Lye and really proud of the artwork that Wollescote Cemetery Chapels in they produced with Dj. It was a Cemetery Road and key features great experience for them to work of the town centre. Thirty large with a professional artist, and pictures have been created they are looking forward to the focusing on the buildings, completed chapel project. monuments and features to brighten up the external contractor hoarding around the Grade II listed Victorian building now undergoing repair and regeneration.

Rufford Primary School Year 4 pupils with Headteacher Ms. Alice Middleton and artist Dj

David Priestley, Headteacher of Thorns Primary School noted: “Our children were particularly Murals designed by local enthused to work with Dj on such schoolchildren for the hoardings an important project and very during building works proud of their art work, they now feel they are part of the history Year 4 pupils from Rufford and future of Lye”. Primary School and Year 5 from Thorns Primary School, close to Throughout the Summer of 2015, Lye town centre, worked with work by Croft Building and local Wollaston mural artist Dj, of Conservation made steady progress artbydj, to create a series of WMHBT & WBPT SPRING 2016 Page 20 and, despite a couple of Lye and Wollescote unanticipated discoveries, works were still on course to be completed Cemetery Chapels before Christmas. Open Day Report

Asbestos revealed when removing roof tiles and three long-eared bats More than forty Trust members revealed when removing one of the and local residents were treated boarded-up windows, were our to a unique view of “works in unexpected guests. The former progress” at Lye and Wollescote required removal and disposal by Cemetery Chapels on Saturday specialists, the latter required all 20th June 2015. work to be stopped until the methodology for an ecological The contract for the building watching brief had been written and works between the Trust and the approved by Natural England. principal contractors, Croft Building and Conservation Ltd of Cannock, included a requirement Thankfully the delay was minimised that public access should be thanks to speedy attention by our provided at some point during the architects at Brownhill Hayward course of the work. Not only did Brown, our appointed ecologist the contractors welcome visitors Middlemarch Environmental, swift to see the building but they also processing of the proposal by laid on demonstrations in the car- Natural England, and a pragmatic park by some of the specialist approach by Croft to re-schedule craftsmen involved in the project. their work programme.

Meanwhile the heritage-related project activities were continuing apace and our Community Facilitator for this project, Carolyn Healy, was inviting people to get in touch who were interested in joining a new ‘Friends of Lye and Wollescote Cemetery’ group.

A small team of volunteers also We were first welcomed by Adrian came forward with an offer to keep Mathias of Brownhill Hayward the grass cut and the garden tidy Brown, Project Architects, who alongside the Superintendent’s outlined the proposal to provide a Lodge, to create a good impression suite of facilities for use by when the time comes to arrange Dudley Metropolitan Borough viewings for prospective tenants. Council Citizenship and WMHBT & WBPT SPRING 2016 Page 21 Registration Services and, We were then free to look around specifically, use by the Registrar the outside of the building while as a venue for weddings and Adrian was conducting tours other civil ceremonies. around the interior.

Then, following a health and safety briefing from Croft’s site foreman, Andy Hutchings, we were allowed into the site. In the car-park, Croft’s leadworker was demonstrating traditional leadworking techniques and their stonemason was carving new stones to replace those which were damaged beyond repair. A representative from tile suppliers, Dreadnought Tiles, was making replacement ridge tiles to match the originals and visitors were allowed and indeed encouraged to Croft’s stone mason carves a new join in the process! piece of stone for the Chapel (above) and (below) a young visitor makes a replacement ridge tile with a little help from the representative from Dreadnought Tiles

Three of our younger Open Day visitors

Ashmore Conservation Metal Smiths were working on the repair of the perimeter railings and glaziers from N. G. Beacham Stained Glass were showing how Externally, the restoration of the surviving pieces of glass were weather-vane and spire had been being removed from the damaged completed and these now rose leadwork and cleaned ready for triumphantly above the re-instatement into new leadwork. scaffolding which still encased WMHBT & WBPT SPRING 2016 Page 22 the rest of the building. Roofs had There was almost as much been stripped and covered scaffolding inside the building as temporarily in polythene sheeting. outside to provide access to the upper parts of the interior but, Repairs to stonework were in although some stripping out had progress and Adrian had already been undertaken, repairs were explained in his initial briefing awaiting the completion of works that the overriding philosophy to the shell and access was throughout the whole contract therefore quite limited. was to retain as much as possible of the original fabric. We saw As with the external works, as therefore that, although some much of the original fabric and stones seemed to be quite features as possible will be eroded, they were only being undisturbed so that, for example, replaced where it was absolutely where the Minton tiled floor in the necessary for structural or entrance lobby had been subject weathering reasons. to some limited settlement, this movement had now ceased so the tiling would be repaired as existing rather than being lifted, levelled and re-laid.

Some compromises will need to be made to ensure the satisfactory re-use of the building. For example the rafters, which are currently exposed, will be hidden from view as a result of the need for insulation, although the trusses and other parts of the roof structure will remain on view. Glazing repairs being carried out by N G Beacham Stained Glass In terms of the curtilage, the perimeter railings were actually in Sadly, very little of the original much better condition than they glazing had remained intact but all appeared, many needing only to surviving pieces of glass from the be cleaned of rust and re-painted. leaded light windows had been carefully numbered and The car-parking area had also catalogued in situ, and the been laid out, which is a slightly damaged lights themselves then unfortunate but completely removed for repair or replacement necessary intrusion into the by the glaziers. setting of the building.

WMHBT & WBPT SPRING 2016 Page 23 Andrew Meredith, Ian Parkin and Shirley Ochi for their assistance in organising the logistics and promotion of this most interesting and enjoyable event.

Ly e and Wollescote Chapels Windows APPOINTMENT OF

Blacksmiths from Ashmore As part of the process of applying Conservation Metal Smiths working for a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) on a panel of the original railings Grant for the Chapels project, West Midlands Historic Buildings However, the adjoining sunken Trust (WMHBT) commissioned an garden will be restored to provide Activity Plan. This covers every an appropriate setting for aspect of the project apart from wedding photographs. the capital costs and it proposed amongst many other things that There had been only one incident two original plain glass windows of vandalism since the contract in the chapels should be replaced began, when the lower part of the by new windows designed by copper lightning conductor was students at Birmingham stolen following unauthorised Metropolitan College and an access to the scaffolding. appropriate secondary school, working with a professional glass There had been some unfortunate artist. delays in the progress of the work after asbestos was found under A Brief for the project was the roof tiles and bats were seen prepared and sent out to six flying (but not roosting) inside the experienced glass artists, with the building. This was despite the fact contract subsequently being that one asbestos survey and two awarded to Paul Floyd, who is bat surveys had been undertaken based at the Ruskin Glass Centre prior to the commencement of the in Amblecote. work! The project is now due for completion in November 2015. Following his appointment, Paul began with visits on his own to Local historians and authors, the Borough Archives and to the Jean Weston and Marlene Price, Chapels themselves. He gathered were on hand to lead Cemetery together as many images as tours and the Trust is extremely possible of the industrial history grateful also to Carolyn Healy, of the area (as this was to provide WMHBT & WBPT SPRING 2016 Page 24 the inspiration for the designs) knowledgeable about the history and of the building, its of the area and its industries. architectural detailing and its context, which were subsequently presented to the students.

Students from Redhill Secondary School (above) and from Birmingham Metropolitan College Students from Redhill Secondary (below) work on their designs School (above) and Birmingham Metropolitan College (below) visit the

Chapels

Paul says that one of the greatest

challenges was to bring together into two relatively small windows After a further visit to the Chapels the ideas of all of the students with the students, Paul worked who took part in the project. He with them in small groups to therefore went to great lengths to develop their ideas and designs emphasise that, although not all based on his presentations and of them would recognise their what they had seen on site. The specific designs, all had made an students in fact needed very little important contribution, if not with encouragement as they were a complete design, then with an extremely enthusiastic about the element of a design or a shape or project and were very a colour. WMHBT & WBPT SPRING 2016 Page 25 Paul has now completed the worker, 2 stained glass specialists, 2 designs and these have been blacksmiths and 6 scaffolders - an approved by the students, impressive list of heritage skills WMHBT and the building’s future being supported by this project and tenant, and the windows are now in furtherance of the charitable in the process of being made. objects of the Trust.

Work by Croft Building and Conservation continued into the Lye and Wollescote Autumn and remained on course to Cemetery Chapels: be completed before Christmas. Manufacture of the New Stained Glass Windows External works completed included roofing repairs, stone replacements and pointing repairs to the tower, pointing at high level, and boundary In a previous edition of this railings and gates repaired and re- Newsletter, we heard how glass decorated. artist, Paul Floyd, had worked with students from Redhill Secondary School and Internally, works completed included Birmingham Metropolitan College ceilings to both chapels repaired and to produce designs for two new re-decorated, and the mezzanine stained glass windows (replacing floor installed to the former Anglican original plain glass windows) at chapel. Stair well block-work and Lye and Wollescote Cemetery structural steelworks had been fitted . to accommodate the new internal Chapels stairs into the basement. Lime plastering and glazing was almost In this edition we re-visit Paul’s completed, including new windows studio to see how the students’ by glass artist Paul Floyd inspired by designs were transformed into the ideas and artworks from pupils at actual windows. These have now Redhill Secondary School, and been completed and installed, and students at BMETC Art & Design will therefore be available to see College and BMETC Kidderminster on the next Chapels open day on Academy. 28th November 2015.

At the October progress meeting, Beginning with the small scale Croft reported the following skilled designs, Paul first produced, on labour to be currently on site: site tracing paper, a full size “cartoon” manager, 4 stone masons, 3 lime of each window. Paper templates plasterers, 1 electrician, 2 plumbing of each of the pieces of glass and heating engineers, 3 roofers, 1 were then fixed onto the cartoons. labourer, 3 carpenters, 1 lead Once the cartoons had been WMHBT & WBPT SPRING 2016 Page 26 completed, the plain glass shapes shaped in section so that a piece were then cut to size and of glass can be slotted into each preparations made for the of the open sides of the H. The roundels and etchings. came was curved to the correct shape with a tool known as a fid and, as each piece was fitted, it was held in place by a farrier’s horseshoe nail until the next piece was ready to be installed.

Once all of the components were assembled, every position where lead cames met was soldered on both sides and then the gaps between every piece of glass and the cames were filled with leaded light cement. The excess cement was then cleaned off and the windows were polished and left to dry for 2-3 days on each side, Cutting glass and layout (above) and although it takes several weeks (below) the leading-up process for the cement to cure fully.

The completed windows were

then sent to the glazier for

installation. Horizontal steel bars

are set into the masonry on each side of the window openings and the panel is then attached to the

bars with copper ties.

It is perhaps a sad reflection of the times that window protection will be necessary (for all the Chapel windows). This will take the form of a fine, external, steel mesh, made to the shape of the window and set into the window The lead frame for each window reveal, which is much less was then set out on a timber obtrusive than the perspex sheets backboard. The strips of lead applied to many church and used in the construction of the chapel windows and not at all windows (known as cames) are H- visible in the internal view. WMHBT & WBPT SPRING 2016 Page 27 Volunteers Help To Care “The Lost Twenty - For Lye and Wollescote Nine” wins an Award Cemetery

Whilst work continues to restore Members of West Midlands the Lye and Wollescote Cemetery Historic Buildings Trust will Chapels, local volunteers have know that, as part of the Lye been hard at work caring for the and Wollescote Cemetery older parts of the cemetery. Many Chapels project, the Trust of the graves in the cemetery are published “The Lost Twenty over a hundred years old meaning Nine” by local historians and there are no relatives around to Trust members Jean Weston tend them. and Marlene Price. The book tells the moving stories of Over the years holly, ivy and twenty nine men who lost their weeds have grown over the lives in the First World War and headstones, hiding the wonderful are commemorated in the stonework and the names of Cemetery. those at rest. The Trust was delighted to learn that the book has won the 2015 award at the Worcestershire Local History Forum, which recognises a specific or ongoing project completed within the last three years. Marlene says: “It was a surprise to both of us, a very nice one I must say. We are both so pleased about this and hope very much that the Trust is also”. The Volunteers at September's grave tidy Trust is, of course, delighted at event the Award and offers its sincere congratulations to Jean and Marlene on their success. The volunteers meet on the first Saturday of the month for a couple of hours and have already Work by Croft Building and had a huge impact on the Conservation reached practical appearance of the cemetery, but completion on 29th January 2016 more volunteers are needed. No and, on that day, the lease to the special skills are required and Borough Registrar commenced. The there are plenty of different tasks building was then referred to as The to suit all ages and abilities. Thomas Robinson Building, after the WMHBT & WBPT SPRING 2016 Page 28 original architect, as it can have no ‘live’ very soon via the project religious connotations for its new use website. as a venue for civil ceremonies.

Lye a nd Wol lescote Cemetery and Chapels Open Morning: Saturday 28th November 2015

Trustees were delighted to welcome members and guests to an open morning at Lye and Having finished their work on the Wollescote Cemetery Chapels on chapels building, Croft were then Saturday 28th November 2015. commissioned to refurbish the lodge, prior to marketing as a residential let. Representatives from WMHBT, the Work began on 1 February and was Architects, Contractors, Activity expected to take 6 weeks to Co-ordinators and the Friends of complete. Marketing by our Lye and Wollescote Cemetery appointed agents, Lex Allan, was were on hand to guide visitors due to start when the refurbishment and answer questions and works were nearing completion. exhibition material, site plans and “before” and “after” photographs Following a competition organised of the conservation works were all by the Registrar and a public vote to on display to tell the story of the choose a couple to win a free project as it neared completion wedding, the first wedding in The Thomas Robinson Building was due During opening an estimated 175 to take place on 2nd April 2016. visitors passed through the doors. Most came from Lye, Wollescote, and Stourbridge but Meanwhile the heritage-related the longest journey was for a project activities were also nearing party of visitors from Manchester completion, including cemetery and who had family in the cemetery town heritage trail leaflets, and four and had come that day to visit the interpretation panels. Carolyn Healy grave, noticed the open day in continued to support the new progress and were delighted to be ‘Friends of Lye and Wollescote able to see inside. Cemetery’ group and it was encouraging that there were then 16 Visitors included around a dozen active members. The online students from Redhill School who educational resources were awaiting had been involved with the design approval by HLF and were due to go of the new stained glass windows, WMHBT & WBPT SPRING 2016 Page 29 along with their proud parents and head of Art Department, and The Lye a nd Wollescote primary school pupils who had Cemetery Interpretation created some of the painted murals on the hoardings earlier in Panels the course of the project. The project was heavily supported There were a number of people by The Heritage Lottery Fund, who were looking around with the whose strategic aims are to intention of holding their wedding conserve the UK’s diverse there in the next year or so and heritage for present and future immediate neighbours who generations to experience and admitted simply to being nosey! enjoy; to help more people, and a wider range of people, take an active part in, and make decisions about, their heritage; and to help people to learn about their own, and other people’s heritage.

One of the ways in which the project aimed to address those strategic objectives was to install a series of interpretation panels around the cemetery and the Redhill School Students (who helped Trust is delighted to report that with the design of the new windows the four panels have now been and came to see the results of their installed. work) Anna and Aimee (above) and (below centre) Mehrun with brother They can be seen whenever the Bilal and Aunt Shahbana cemetery is open and cover the topics of the Building itself, Iconography and Symbolism, the Nonconformist Burial Area and The Commonwealth War Graves.

The first panel describes The Thomas Robinson Building, which is the new name for Lye and Wollescote Cemetery Chapels, and deals with the history of the building, its redundancy and the Trust’s project to restore it and bring it back in to use.

WMHBT & WBPT SPRING 2016 Page 30 and Wollescote townships lost their lives in the two World Wars. There are 25 Commonwealth graves in the cemetery, of which 15 are graves of men who died in the First World War and 10 of men who died in the Second.

THE MANAGEMENT The second panel shows how the COMMITTEE majority of the grave monuments are typical of those of the late 19th and early 20th centuries and Acting Chairman: John Woodall; describes some of the more Vice-Chairman: Jayne Pilkington; common features which appear Treasurer : Andrew Bradley; on the headstones and their Membership Secretary : Steve meaning. Mason; Minutes Secretary : Peter Arnold; The next panel describes the Newsletter Editor : Nick Hogben; divisions which existed at the Trustees : Philip Adams, time between the Nonconformists Katherine Andrew, Mark Balkham, and the Established Church, David Bills MBE, Nigel Brown, Nick explaining why there are two Joyce, Robert Tolley, Sue separate chapels in the one Whitehouse (co-opted); building and why the central Project Organiser: David Trevis- pathway effectively divides the Smith; burial ground into two, with Company Secretary : Peter Copsey. Nonconformists buried to the left and Anglicans to the right. THE PHOTOGRAPHS IN THIS SPECIAL NEWSLETTER HAVE BEEN TAKEN BY BROWNHILL HAYWARD BROWN, DJ, DUDLEY METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL, PAUL FLOYD, CAROLYN HEALY, NICK HOGBEN, ANDREW MEREDITH, MIDLAND PHOTOGRAPHIC, SHEELAGH PARKER, MARLENE PRICE, DAVID TREVIS-SMITH, The final panel describes how AND JEAN WESTON. more than 300 men from the Lye

WMHBT & WBPT SPRING 2016 Page 31

PAST PRESENT FUTURE

The Newsletter of West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust and Worcestershire Building Preservation Trust ______

West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust offers its grateful thanks to all those individuals and organisations who have contributed in so many different ways to the success of this project. In particular, it would like to acknowledge those who have provided financial support, without which the project would not have been possible.

DUDLEY METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

THE WILLIAM A CADBURY CHARITABLE TRUST

THE OWEN FAMILY TRUST

THE WILLIAM AND JANE MORRIS FUND OF THE SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES OF LONDON

To find out more about the project visit www.lyeandwollescote.info

______Company Offices, Adam House, Birmingham Road, Kidderminster, Stourbridge DY10 2SH Registered Company No. 1876294 Registered Charity No. 516158 VAT Registration No. 669 8183 73 WMHBT & WBPT SPRING 2016 Page 32