“AWARDS ACCUMULATING AS
COWDRAY RUINS WIN 2ND MAJOR CONSERVATION AWARD”
The Cowdray Heritage Project set up by the Cowdray Heritage Trust – the charitable trust formed twelve years ago to save the hugely significant Tudor Cowdray House ruins in Midhurst, West Sussex, from total collapse – has just been crowned Overall Winner of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) South East Awards 2008, as well as Winner of the region’s Building Conservation category.
The project was in competition with 17 other shortlisted projects from across the South East and was announced the overall winner at a ceremony held at Oxford Castle, which was last year’s winner.
Entered by Stonewest Limited – the contractor that carried out the conservation works between 2005-2007 and who had entered the project for the award – the Tudor Cowdray house ruins fought off fierce competition to take the accolade of Overall Winner. The other three categories in these annual awards were for Community Benefit, Regeneration and Sustainability.
The winning project in each category now goes forward to the RICS Awards Grand Final to be held on 17th October at the Millennium Hotel in London.
Commented Heather Ongley, Operations Manager at Cowdray, “This is absolutely wonderful news and follows hot on the heels of our recently announced success in the “2008 Museums & Heritage Awards for Excellence” in which we won the “Restoration/Conservation Award for Excellence”. We have our fingers firmly crossed now for the Grand Final event in October.
Once again, this is well-deserved recognition for all those who have been involved in this hugely complex conservation project and as our second season progresses, we hope this exciting news will encourage new visitors to come and look round and attend one of our forthcoming events. We have a “Wardour Garrison” weekend on the 28-29 th June when there will be lots to see and do. Anyone interested in becoming more involved with Cowdray, we have two Volunteer Recruitment Events on Saturday 14 th and Tuesday 17th June, starting at 10am. Do get in touch if you are interested in attending.
9th June 2008
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'COWDRAY RUINS RECEIVE TOP NATIONAL AWARD'
The Cowdray Heritage Project set up by the Cowdray Heritage Trust – the charitable trust formed twelve years ago to save the hugely significant Tudor Cowdray ruins in Midhurst, West Sussex, from total collapse – has been awarded the “Restoration/Conservation Award for Excellence” in the “2008 Museums & Heritage Awards for Excellence” . Following this project, the Cowdray ruins re-opened to the public in March 2007 as a fully conserved, stabilised, interpreted and accessible visitor attraction of national and international significance.
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Photo (left to right): John McCrae-Stonewest; Nico Dekker-Cowdray Heritage Trust; Simon Calder; Steve Collins-Cowdray Project Manager; Andrew Harris-Conservation Architect; Dave Collier-St Blaise. |
These national awards aim to recognise and celebrate best practice within museums, galleries and heritage visitor attractions throughout the country. Each year they attract a very large number of top level entries in each award category.
The Trust’s conservation project was a heritage industry “Oscar” winner alongside the British Museum - for its renowned exhibition The First Emperor: China’s Terracotta Army; the National Trust for Scotland - for new technology used at Culloden Battlefield; the London Transport Museum - for their new permanent Galleries ; the National Museum of Liverpool - for Make the Link, Break the Chain and an individual award to Tony Robinson, presenter of the popular TV programme “Time Team”, for his contribution to widening the appeal of archaeology. The awards were judged by a panel of industry professionals including representatives from Visit Britain, the V&A Museum of Childhood, a Director of ssGreat Britain and a Director of the Churchill War Museum and Cabinet Rooms.
At a gala ceremony in London’s Church House, Westminster, attended by over 250 industry professionals from around the world, UK travel writer and broadcaster, Simon Calder, presented the winners’ trophies. The Cowdray award was received by representatives of Stonewest (the contractor that carried out the conservation works and who had entered the project for the award), Nico Dekker, representative of the Cowdray Heritage Trust, Mott McDonald project managers and conservation architects, Martin Ashley Associates.
In his acceptance speech Nico Dekker, who in the last five years was responsible for leading the implementation group of the Trust, acknowledged the tremendous effort made by the Trust over the last twelve years now culminating in this proud moment of recognition. He thanked the Heritage Lottery Fund and the many other funding bodies, the professional team and mentioned particularly the high quality of work done by Stonewest. The judges had commended the conservation work for the sensitive approach to this historic building.
During the awards evening Stonewest related several stories of their experience working on the building which they really loved. The stone mason company recruited some staff locally and trained them up and some have stayed with the company now as skilled masons. Some scary moments were also encountered; when large lintels were replaced in the westgate, movements were heard (!). Because the masons really got to know “the feel” of the building they managed to take quick action to avoid a catastrophic collapse of the tower. Now everything is in a safe state for future generations to enjoy.
Commented Heather Ongley, Operations Manager at the Cowdray ruins site, “This is wonderful news and well deserved recognition for all those involved in this hugely complex conservation project. As our second year of operation rolls forward, we are looking forward to increasing visitor numbers and national awards such as this, will definitely help spread the word.”
Cowdray Ruins - Pre Conservation
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Cowdray Ruins - After Conservation
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ENDS 20th May 2008
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“COWDRAY WELCOMES WEST SUSSEX DIGINITARIES
ON FACT-FINDING TOUR”
The Cowdray ruins today welcomed a group of eighteen local dignitaries led by the Chairman of the Chichester District Council and Leader of the Council, Councillor John Ridd. Councillor Ridd was on another of his fact-finding Tours of the District and his guests included the Chairmen and Mayors of the other Districts and Boroughs within West Sussex and the eastern part of Hampshire, and the High Sheriff of West Sussex, Sir Richard Kleinwort.
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(from left)
-Councillor Ashvin Patel, Chairman of Arun District Council.
-Councilllor Keith Blake, Crawley Borough Council and husband of Mayor, Mrs Sally Blake
-Councillor John Ridd, Chairman of Chichester District Council
-Councillor Graham Hicks, Deputy Chairman of Chichester District Council
-Mrs Ebbi Ridd, wife of John Ridd
-Mrs Pauline Hicks, wife of Graham Hicks
-Councillor Mrs Sally Blake, the Mayor of Crawley
-Mrs Hilary Smith, wife of Mayor, John Smith
-Councillor John Smith, the Mayor of Havant
-Sir Richard Kleinwort, High Sheriff of West Sussex.
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The aim of the tour was to give his guests a flavour of the Chichester District, which covers an area of 300 square miles, and what it has to offer, in the hope that it will encourage them to return and recommend the Chichester District to their friends and colleagues.
The group was welcomed and hosted by Cowdray’s Operations Manager, Heather Ongley, who took them on a half hour tour of the site to explain its history, the partial destruction by fire, the recent restoration and interpretation project, as well as plans for the future.
Commented Heather, “As our second season continues to build momentum, we were delighted to welcome Councillor John Ridd and his group here today. The key to our success and raising our profile and visitor numbers can be greatly encouraged by groups such as this so we hope they enjoyed their tour, were interested by what they saw and will return home and spread the word amongst all relevant groups. We are particularly keen for primary schools and primary school children to come and enjoy the site as part of their Key Stage 1 and 2 Tudor history work and as one of the finest remaining Tudor examples in Southern England today. We have a super Children’s Activity Day planned for the second Saturday in the half-term week, the 31st May, so this is another opportunity for anyone who hasn’t yet visited, to come a long and look round.
15th May 2008
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COWDRAY RE-OPENS FOR 2ND SEASON
WITH BEAUTIFULLY RESTORED GATES IN PLACE, A NEW TEAM AND NEW EVENTS FOR 2008
Scheduled ancient monument and historic Tudor site, the Cowdray house ruins in Midhurst, West Sussex, is re-opening to the public for its second season on Wednesday 19th March.
Re-opening in time for the early Easter weekend, the four and half month “closed” period has been a busy time. The long-awaited and now beautifully restored original front gates have been reinstated in their former position and are a wonderful sight to behold as visitors approach Cowdray up the ancient Causeway from Midhurst town centre.
The attraction also has a new team running the site this year. Heather Ongley, previously Duty Manager, Events Organiser and Health & Safety Officer at Gilbert White’s House and the Oates Museum in Selborne, Hampshire, is the new Operations Manager and she has now been joined by Rachel Usher who is the new Administration Officer. Heather and Rachel are supported by a growing number of Volunteers and the Cowdray Heritage Trust continues to be run by a Board of Trustees with Lord Cowdray as its President and Colin Hughes as Chairman.
As the gates re-open, the team is also delighted to announce a change in policy regarding dogs. They are now happy for visitors to bring their dogs with them as long as they are kept on a lead and are well behaved. Last year only Guide dogs were permitted.
A new programme of Events has also been planned and the first four include an Easter Egg Hunt, a Medieval Encampment, an Activity Day for children and a Wardour Garrison weekend.
The Easter Egg Hunt commences on Good Friday, 21st March, and continues until Saturday 19th April. Children under 16 can hunt for the Easter eggs hidden around the ruins and then claim a prize back at the Visitor Centre – cost £1 per child.
The programme continues with a Medieval Encampment on Sunday 20th April run by Raven Tor, a living history group that recreates crafts, displays and combat from the 15th century. Visitors will meet brave knights and Tudor cooks and will be able to learn about weapons, drills and fighting, as well as traditional crafts and cooking. 10.30am – 5pm, the usual admission charges apply.
Saturday 31st May is a children’s Activity Day that will see pirates take over the ruins! Children will be able to have a go at fencing, meet costumed characters and have lots of fun. Timed sessions for fencing tuition will be offered at a small extra charge, otherwise the usual admission charges apply and include all other activities between 10.30am and 5pm.
The final weekend in June – Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th – sees the arrival of a Wardour Garrison by a group of enthusiastic people who enjoy re-enacting life as it might have been during the 17th century. By setting up camp at Cowdray the group will present a flavour of both domestic and military life. A range of skills and crafts will be displayed within the living encampment and be interspersed with a series of lively demonstrations and skirmishes. 10.30am – 5pm, the usual admission charges apply.
Commented Heather Ongley, Operations Manager, “We are greatly looking forward to the re-opening of Cowdray on the 19th March. After a challenging first season weather-wise, we are hoping that this year will be much drier, brighter and more welcoming for our visitors. We are also hoping that many more groups and schools will come to Cowdray to learn about this significant Tudor house. A once hugely important house, both socially and politically, during the reign of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, Cowdray had over 200 staff in its heyday to keep the house running smoothly.”
7th March 2008
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“COWDRAY HERITAGE TRUST
APPOINTS NEW ‘OPERATIONS MANAGER’
AT HISTORIC TUDOR COWDRAY HOUSE RUINS SITE”
The Cowdray Heritage Trust is delighted to announce the appointment of Heather Ongley as the new Operations Manager of the Cowdray house ruins site in Midhurst, West Sussex.
Reporting directly to the Board of Trustees, Heather starts her new role on 23rd January and takes over from Sue Martin who left last August after overseeing the attraction’s initial launch phase. Heather will be responsible for the day-to-day smooth running of the site and its continuing development as a local, national and international visitor attraction of considerable historical and archaeological significance.
Re-opened to the public last spring after a major two-year ‘conservation, restoration, access and stabilisation’ programme, Cowdray was finally taken off the English Heritage “At Risk” register last summer and is now due to re-open for its 2nd season on Wednesday 19th March – just before Easter.
Heather brings with her a wealth of experience having been Duty Manager, Events Organiser and Health & Safety Officer at the Gilbert White’s House and the Oates Museum in Selborne, Hampshire. She was previously the Deputy Manager at Guildford Civic Hall running the sales, marketing and administration of this busy entertainment and conference venue, and prior to that was Sales & Marketing Manager at Southampton Guildhall where she was responsible for the box office and marketing of the venue.
Commented Heather, “I am delighted to be here in Midhurst working on this hugely exciting project. As a ‘Scheduled Ancient Monument’ of huge national and international significance, I am greatly looking forward to welcoming our visitors here for our second season.”
Commented Colin Hughes, Chairman of the Cowdray Heritage Trust, “We are delighted that Heather has joined us and are greatly look forward to the season ahead. The location has so much to offer and we are confident that she can deliver increased visitor numbers.”
29th January 2008
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COWDRAY HERITAGE TRUST HOSTS DRINKS RECEPTION
TO THANK ALL INVOLVED IN COWDRAY HOUSE RUINS
10 YEAR CONSERVATION PROJECT
The President (Lord Cowdray), Chairman (Colin Hughes), Operations Manager (Sue Martin) and Trustees of the Cowdray Heritage Trust – an independent charity responsible for managing the Cowdray house ruins on a 99-year lease from the Cowdray Estate - gathered at the Cowdray house ruins site in Midhurst, West Sussex, on Tuesday 12th June to host a lunch time drinks reception to thank all those who have been involved in and made donations towards this major conservation project.
A Scheduled Ancient Monument and Grade 1 listed building, Cowdray had been on English Heritage’s “At Risk” Register for many years but in 1996 the Midhurst Town Council and current (4th) Viscount Cowdray met to formulate a plan to save the ruins from total collapse. Ten years later and following a major two-year conservation and interpretation project, the ruins successfully re-opened to the public as a major new UK visitor attraction on the 31st March 2007. Over 3,000 people attended the launch opening.
Fundamental to the project’s success has been a major Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £2.6 million together with additional support from English Heritage, the Cowdray Estate, individuals and the local community totalling £3.9 million. Without this support the project would not have been possible and the reception was held to personally thank all those involved.
Representatives from the Heritage Lottery Fund, English Heritage, the Cowdray Estate, individual benefactors, the West Sussex County Council, the Chichester District Council, the Midhurst & Easebourne Town and Parish Councils, the project manager, architects, quantity surveyors, structural engineers and specialist contractors all attended the drinks reception to hear the President and the Chairman of the Trust thank them for their enormous support and help throughout the project. A programme of special events throughout 2007 was also detailed, as well as future plans and projects to further develop the site such as a new Study Centre in the Kitchen Tower.
Commented Sue Martin, Operations Manager for the Cowdray Heritage Trust, “Once again we would like to say a massive thank-you to everyone who has been involved in and contributed towards this major 10 year project. It has been a considerable achievement and we were thrilled that so many involved in the project were able to join us on Tuesday to celebrate.”
The reception was followed by the opportunity to tour the ruins site with the help of Cowdray’s growing band of Volunteers who act as guides when the site is open to visitors, Wednesday to Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays between March and October.
More Volunteers are still needed to help run the site so anyone interested in joining Cowdray as a Volunteer should please get in contact via email at info@cowdray.org.uk or by telephoning 01730-810781.
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‘COWDRAY HERITAGE TRUST’ ANNOUNCES
2007 PROGRAMME OF EVENTS FOR
NEWLY RE-OPENED TUDOR ‘COWDRAY’ HOUSE RUINS
Following the recent and highly successful re-opening of the Tudor Cowdray house ruins in Midhurst, West Sussex, as a major new UK visitor attraction, the Cowdray Heritage Trust is delighted to announce its “2007 Programme of Events”.
With a history dating back to the early 1500’s, Cowdray was in its heyday during the reign of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, both of whom visited and stayed at the house, with Henry being a frequent visitor. Nearly three hundred years later and whilst undergoing repairs and refurbishments for the impending marriage of the 8th Viscount Montague, a devastating fire took hold on the evening of the 24th September 1793. The house was destroyed to a great extent – but with significant exceptions such as the intact Kitchen Tower, which remains today.
Appealing to a wide variety of visitors - including historians and anyone interested in or studying the Tudor, Stuart and Georgian periods at school, university or for pleasure; archaeologists; craftsmen; garden landscape designers, school children and budding chefs - the Cowdray Heritage Trust has put together the following Programme of Events to encourage new and repeat visitors throughout the 2007 season.
Saturday 2nd June:
Tudor Crafts and Cookery Day – there will be Tudor re-enactors cooking and demonstrating traditional crafts of the time. Also, spinning and dyeing and a chance to see embroidery and examples of needlework, ink-making and calligraphy as well as cooking in the original Tudor Kitchens.
Sunday 15th July:
Apothecary Plants and Herbs Day - see soaps, ointments, candles and rush lights being made and herbs available to swap or buy.
Saturday 21st July:
Early Tudor ‘Murder Mystery’ Dinner – wine and dine and follow the clues. Tickets are available from the new Cowdray Visitor Centre adjacent to the ruins site. Numbers are limited so anyone interested in attending is advised to book early to avoid disappointment (01730-810781). The evening commences at 7pm.
Sunday 19th August:
Living History Day on the Early Tudor Period - hear the “Discover History” talks on how to trace the history of your house, including the basics of timber framing, architectural styles, using the Record Office and how to start your family tree.
Saturday 8th September:
Heritage Open Day – the day will include talks about the history of Cowdray and its visitors and these will take place in the new “Study Centre” located in the Kitchen Tower above the Kitchens. Entry to the Study Centre is FREE to all ‘Friends of Cowdray’ and anyone who has paid the day entry fee.
SPECIAL DAY ENTRY PRICE… Adult entry fees will be discounted to £4.50 (usually £5) on the 8th September so come along for a visit, tour the site and enjoy the talks.
Sunday 28th October:
A ‘Grand Halloween Finale’ - to mark the Samhain Festival or ‘the changing of the seasons’ and to celebrate the end of Cowdray’s first season, the day will commence at lunchtime and include pumpkin carving, toffee apples, gingerbread, apple bobbing, hog roast, guresome trick or treating, have a go fencing.. There will also be festive crafts such Halloween costume competition - with a prize for the best one and everyone arriving in costume receiving a discount on entry. So get making those costumes!
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LAUNCH DAY A GREAT SUCCESS
'Cowdray Ruins opened to the public on Saturday 31st March, at last taking its place among the major historical attractions for tourists visiting West Sussex.
The 3.6m Cowdray Heritage Trust project to conserve the remains of the noble 16th century Tudor manor house, all but destroyed by fire in 1793 and two centuries of decay, has finally achieved its ambition after 11 years of planning and two years of specialist conservation work.
The conservation has been backed by organisations including the Cowdray Estate, English Heritage, the Heritage Lottery Fund, West Sussex county and Chichester district councils, Midhurst Town Council and Easebourne Parish Council. More than 3,000 people took advantage of the free opening day, 1,000 of them joining a procession through the town.
Re-enactment groups provided entertainment as the first 21st century visitors made their way through the inner courtyard to tour what still stands proudly of the once-palatial home where Henry VII and Elizabeth I were among the royal guests....'
(Midhurst & Petworth Observer, Thursday April 5 2007)
Photos: Val Carver
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COWDRAY "OPEN MORNING" ATTRACTS
GOOD LOCAL INTEREST
The Cowdray Heritage Trust - the organisation now running the Cowdray ruins site - held its first open morning in February to find local residents interested in becoming a Volunteer or Friend for this major new visitor attraction which opened on the 31st March 2007.
Cowdray Heritage Trust - Operations Manager - Sue Martin
Organised by the new Operations Manager, Sue Martin, the event took place at the Cowdray site and was attended by thirty interested local residents. The morning included the opportunity to tour the site, followed by a talk by an archaeologist and historian both closely involved in the project, the chance to see an exhibition about the project, a question & answer session and festive refreshments in the Walled Garden at Cowdray’s Castle Room.
Commented Sue Martin; “I was delighted by the response and interest shown by our guests at this first open morning. There is obviously interest to learn more about what is happening here and to get involved in this major new attraction. With the restoration project now nearly completed, we are well on our way to planning the official opening event for the end of next March.”
A second “Open Morning” is now being planned for January and this time it will be held at the weekend so that anyone unable to attend during the week can come along and find out more. |
