Blacksmiths yard to re-open after £1m restoration

[dutchman]

An old blacksmith and wheelwright yard which won a restoration competition on TV finally opens to the public for the first time this weekend.



Chedham’s Yard, which was run by the same family from the early 19th century to the 1960s, has been restored to its original splendour.

The Wellesbourne workshops were in disrepair when they won the BBC’s Restoration Village programme in 2006, paving the way for funding of more than £1 million.

Work began last year, including the construction of an oak visitor centre, with the new-look yard opening for pre-booked visits this Saturday.

There will be blacksmith demonstrations and people can try putting a wheel together and learn more about the Chedham family who worked at the yard.

The buildings are crammed with original tools and equipment.

Restoration project officer Emma Banks said: “We can’t wait to welcome the public to the yard to see the restored buildings.”

The yard was run by five generations of the Chedham family until Bill Chedham, who still lives in the village, shut up shop in the mid-1960s, leaving behind a remarkable time capsule.

After winning the TV show, in which viewers were invited by presenter Griff Rhys Jones to vote for their favourite restoration project, the yard became a victim of the floods which hit the region in 2007.

And before funding could be granted for the site, which is owned by Wellesbourne Parish Council, there had to be archeological digs, and detailed bat and wildlife surveys.

It had been planned to reopen in September 2010.

The project has been jointly funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the BBC Restoration Trust.

The yard will be open to pre-booked visitors every Saturday until the end of October.

Tickets range from £1.50 for children to £10.45 for a family ticket with Gift Aid.

Book online at http://www.chedhamsyard.org.uk or by calling 01789 842770 on Tuesdays from 1pm until 4pm, and Fridays from 10am until 1pm.

[Spuffler]

a million quid to restore a wooden shed? What did they use, the very best teak and mahogany, with solid gold nails?

[dutchman]

a million quid to restore a wooden shed? What did they use, the very best teak and mahogany, with solid gold nails?

It's a large complex of buildings Spuffler but that picture of the shed was the only one printable here. The other buildings were all lost in shadow.