Conservation Work To Begin Next Year At Basing House and Grange Farm
Friday, 26 October 2012
Proposals to secure the preservation of Hampshire's historic Basing House, for future generations have been given the go ahead from Hampshire County Council.
At his Decision Day (25 October 2012), Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Ken Thornber approved a programme of conservation and community access improvement work planned by the Council's Culture Communities and Business Services, for Basing House. It follows a grant of £624,000 for project funding awarded from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) earlier this year.
The site was once the largest private house in Tudor England until its destruction following a siege by Oliver Cromwell's forces during the Civil War.
During the last three years HLF and other grants, totalling more than £1million, have helped to bring about a transformation, providing many exciting ways for visitors to enjoy the stories of Basing House, including a museum telling the dramatic story of the final siege and fall of this great house. Together with the new visitor centre and facilities, as well as improved access and signage throughout the historic site, this is a great place for all the family to visit.
The final phase of work will begin in February 2013 and will feature three key projects -
1) Completing the transformation of Grange Farm, with the refurbishment of the cow byre building into an education workshop. This will become a key part of the visitor and learning experience, providing a hub for community engagement.
2) Installing a viewing platform with new interpretation, which will offer an overview of the remains of the Tudor House, the Civil War earthworks and Basing Common (the site of the main Parliamentary siege camp).
3) Repairing and conserving the historic brickwork and surviving archaeological remains.
Councillor Thornber, said: "Basing House is one of the most prominent historic sites in not only Hampshire, but the South East region as a whole. By taking steps to preserve the remains and enhance the site for future generations to enjoy, we can help to safeguard this once-great Tudor mansion."
Work will begin next February and complete in the summer of 2013.
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