Our exciting Redbourn House Portico project is progressing well. Redbourn Parish Council has now given landlord’s permission for the erection of the Portico in the Museum garden and we are working on an application to St Albans District Council for Planning Permission.
To keep our costs down we are endeavouring to use local skills where possible and to this end a band of willing volunteers met recently to lay out the portico stones in the museum car park (see photograph). Ken Hart, a retired structural engineer, has kindly agreed to draw up the calculations thus ensuring the portico is erected to the relevant standards and Austin Trueman, a business friend, has agreed to add his professional indemnity to the project.
Funding for the project is going very well nearly £6,000 has been raised towards the current budget of £12,000. A village wide leaflet drop will soon be circulated informing everyone of this exciting project and seeking donations towards the scheme. An application has been made for a Co-op grant.
Diane Whiskin is holding “Dine with Di” nights at £25 per head – to include a glass of Prosecco, a three course meal with Bring Your Own wine. The meals will be for eight/ten people on Friday, 25th May, Friday, 22nd June, Saturday, 14th July, Friday 3rd August, Saturday, 8th September and Saturday, 13th October. Some of the evenings may be “themed” – Turkish, Spanish, French, Indian - if you are interested in attending one please give Diane a ring on 01582 792846 or email her on whiskindiane78@gmail.com.
Various fundraisers are being held throughout the year; one of which is a bottle stall at the Steam Day on 28th May and donations of bottles would be very welcome. These can either be left at the Museum or delivered to Diane at 42 Crown Street, Redbourn.
It has now been agreed that the portico should be erected at the far end of the garden, leaving the garden space open for events. Two very imposing busts that were in the Redbourn House garden (currently on display in the Museum) together with a piece of statuary which was delivered to Redbourn with the portico stones, (an unexpected bonus!), will be placed in the garden, beyond the portico, forming a little secret garden entered through the portico.
The aim is to have the portico erected towards the end of this year and the project completed by 2019/20 in time for the 20th anniversary of Redbourn Museum.