Lottery Grant for Farnham Museum

Published on: 9 Aug, 2024
Updated on: 10 Aug, 2024

Farnham Museum. Wikipedia

By Chris Caulfield

local democracy reporter

Urgent work to stop one of Surrey’s “most important buildings” decaying away has received a quarter of a million-pound grant from the National Lottery.

Despite this windfall the expected cost of the project has increased by 20 per cent and a final decision on whether to proceed with the work will be made in September.

Repair costs to the Grade-I listed Museum of Farnham in Willmer House have jumped from an estimated £1 million to £1.2m since the council said it would plug any financial gaps in the project last year.

The original budget, Waverley Borough Council said, was based on estimates while the new increased figure reflects the bids for the work coming in.

In July 2023, the council stepped in to cover the £275k funding gap in the project after receiving £735k from the Arts Council, but the increased costs mean a final decision on how to cover the difference won’t be made until September.

Cllr Peter Martin (Con, Godalming Holloway) chairs the council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

He said he expected the council to cover the difference in the same way it pledged to a year ago but would push as to why the budget had leapt by 20 per cent.

He said: “We all regard the Farnham Museum as a terrific asset belonging to the community and would wish to ensure that that continues.”

Willmer House was built in 1718 in the reign of George I for a local hop merchant. The building later became a school and dental surgery. It has housed the museum since 1961.

The new £230,310 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund would help the council’s contractors carry out “essential repairs” to the decaying brickwork, collapsing second-floor window arches, and deeply eroded mortar joints to go ahead.

A Waverley Borough Council spokesperson, said: “Costs for the works on Willmer House were pre-tender estimates at the time of the funding application. These costs have increased now the works have been tendered. The tender outcome will go to Full Council on 16 September at which point the council’s recommendation regarding funding will be delivered.”

Cllr Kika Mirylees (Farnham Residents, Farnham Firgrove), Waverley Borough Council’s portfolio holder for community services and leisure, said the money would help address many of the issues at the “important historical building in Farnham”.

She added: “The funding will allow much-needed essential repairs to take place but also ensure the long-term conservation of this wonderful building and we are extremely grateful to the Heritage Fund for assisting us in this important project.”

The museum’s main red-brick façade, Baroque in style and described by the Pevsner as one of the finest in the country, is in urgent need of repair. The work will also help make the building more sustainable, the council said, and require “minimal intervention in future years”.

These will include rebuilding the parapet wall, replacing the existing brick cornice, rebuilding the second-floor window brick arches, repairing and decorating the original timber sash windows and main entrance doorway as well as restoring Portland stone windowsills and doorstep and a clean of the entire façade, amongst others.

Work is expected to start in the late summer although much of the brickwork will initially happen off-site and is expected to finish by the end of next year.

The museum will remain open to the public throughout the construction period.

Peter Glanville, CEO of Farnham Maltings, added: “This funding which will enable Willmer House to continue to serve the people of Farnham for years to come.

“Throughout the project, we look forward to welcoming the local community to learn more about the intricate restoration work taking place, and discover the wonderful local stories held within the museum.”