2023 starts a little differently for Jaggard Macland LLP Building Surveyors!
Chiltern Open Air Museum undertake a schedule of condition and maintenance programme on a number of their buildings.
Philip Pearcey and Roy Roland were commissioned by the Chiltern Open Air Museum to undertake a schedule of condition and maintenance programme on a number of buildings at this popular tourist attraction in Chalfont St Giles.
The Chiltern Open Air Museum is an outdoor museum where the general public can wander and explore around 30 rescued and reconstructed buildings originally built around the many towns of Buckinghamshire. These buildings comprise farm buildings, barns, houses, factories, pre-fabricated buildings etc. Some of these buildings are circa 300 years old. Many of the buildings have been rebuilt on the museum site within the last 50 years. To see the buildings and general info about the museum click here: https://coam.org.uk/.
Phil and Roy were asked to survey 10 of the 30 buildings on site, which the museum director considered in the worst condition. Whilst the museum staff comprises predominately volunteers, there are some skilled tradesmen within the ranks. Nonetheless, Jaggard Macland LLP were asked to provide more specialist advice to confirm the overall condition of the buildings, advise on those most urgent repairs and also notify of any health and safety concerns that required attention prior to the museum reopening in March.
Many of the buildings were in reasonable condition, having benefitted from more modern materials, techniques and fixings during their reconstruction at the site, however, Jaggard Macland LLP were able to advise on some disrepair to pitched roofs, (including thatch), joinery issues, damaged rainwater goods etc. Hopefully our report will assist the museum in prioritising works, allocating budgets with the aim to maintain these historic buildings to allow the public to enjoy them for years to come.
The skills needed to inspect these historic buildings is interchangeable with modern buildings, which Roy and Phil inspect on a more regular basis. However, should you be a private buyer needing a survey, management company needing an assessment of your building stock or a museum director, then get in touch.
Contact: Philip Pearcey