Welcome to our September newsletter. We are happy to have lots of good news and updates for you, this newsletter is covering: the latest Hall status, the picnic on Sunday, the cleanup weekend, badge making with Quirky Metals, lots of recent media and press and a couple of other bits and pieces.
Hall Update
Firstly, we are the proud holders of the keys to the Hall. We have an initial two-month license from the council (to clean up, prepare some first rooms for use and assess the rest of the building to develop our plans). We’re working on a 12 month licence to open up and do much more as we develop our full business plan. We now have a £20K council grant with much support from Councillors Alexi Diamond, Marieanne Elliott and Paul Turpin. It was a Gleadless Valley Ward Councillors approval form the CIL fund which was signed off by the Chair of the Council’s Communities and Parks and Leisure Committee Councillor, Brian Holmshaw. Read the full article here
We’ll have at least three rooms available through the winter for running community activities and events. This is a project made for and owned by us all, so come and use it! Do you have ideas for bringing the Hall to life, bringing colour and joy? Do you have a community group or learning activity that you would like us to host in Meersbrook Hall? Tell us what you’d like to put on or help to run in the Hall and when you might need it. We’re exploring lots of ways of using the Hall and creating our business plan. Get in touch here: [email protected]
We are also preparing plans for our ‘East Wing’; this is the section of the building furthest from Brook Road, if you come on one of the Heritage Tours you will learn all about this! If you are interested in renting or using a space in Meersbrook Hall in the future for your business or social enterprise fill in this form here: www.meersbrookhall.org.uk/interest
There will be lots more practical ways to help coming up: host activities, welcome people, more cleaning, join working parties such as an Event committee, the list is endless.
Photo of Andy (Joint Secretary, R) and Mark (Chair, R) with keys
Picnic
Our Picnic is this Sunday 13th September 12noon til 4pm right infront of the Hall. We have a full schedule of music and performances, a fantastic raffle, teas and cakes, some beautiful pewter brooches and bookmarks made in conjunction with Quirky Metal (see link in The Star), a portrait sketching tent, shiatsu masseurs, a mobile photography van for Vintage portraits, Info tent and lots of activities for all ages! Please do come along and join us! The Hall will be open to use the toilet and disabled toilet and breastfeeding area (there is also a toilet and baby change in Walled Garden).
Cleaning Weekend
The cleaning weekend has been a resounding success. We’ve been thrilled and grateful to see how many people have turned up and got stuck into the cleaning. It was wonderful for the place to feel full of energy and enthusiasm and chatter. The Hall already looks like a different place. People popped by to say Hello or wish us well or share stories and hopes or bring us biscuits. Councillors Marianne Elliott and Paul Turpin (both Gleadless Valley Ward) also called by to say Hello and share their support.
itvNEWS also kindly came to film us during the cleaning and interviewed both Mark Cordle (chair) and Ken Dash (archaeologist and local historian). Watch it here.
( Left to Right) Sophie and Simon wonderful volunteers, Councillor Douglas Johnson, Councillor Marieanne Elliott and Ken Dash, Archaeologist (and local historian)
Quirky Metal Making Session
We were lucky enough to be working with Quirky Metals team Jim and Laura Stringer who have helped us make some incredible pewter badges and bookmarks representing the Hall. It was a couple of wonderful evenings with volunteers being a huge part of this process. These items will be available to buy at the Picnic and at some point in the future (if there are any left) via our website.
Jim (of Quirky Metals, L) and Cris one of our volunteers badge making.
Media Coverage
We’ve had some wonderful recent coverage in Active 8 and here are a great collection of articles in The Star about us too!
https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/politics/council/sheffield-restoration-plans-for-listed-building-boosted-by-ps20000-council-grant-8973410%0a
https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/politics/council/sheffield-campaign-to-restore-historic-building-gets-crafty-with-help-from-quirky-firm-8955036
https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/politics/why-experts-are-now-more-optimistic-for-future-of-at-risk-sheffield-heritage-landmarks-8848800
Heritage Days
We are taking part in the Open Heritage Days on September 11th and 18th. All of our tours immediately booked up, so we are sorry that many of you didn’t get a place but please don’t worry there will be more tours we are just in the process of working out dates. Keep an eye on the website and our Facebook page to find out.
That’s about it for now. We hope to see you at the picnic this weekend. Fingers crossed for good and dry weather!
If you have questions or suggestions about anything please contact us at [email protected]
Check out the website or Facebook for up to date information. And feel free to email us at [email protected] if it’s specifically volunteer related. Kind Regards
Friends of Meersbrook Hall
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Meersbrook Hall is a beautiful Grade II listed building in Meersbrook Park, Sheffield, for many years the home of the Ruskin Museum. The Friends of Meersbrook Hall are working to try to keep Meersbrook Hall in public ownership and develop it in a way which benefits the local community and enhances the park.
Find us on Facebook for news, updates and discussion.
If you’re not a member of FoMH already you can sign up here.
If you are able to make any donation towards the Hall please use the QR code below or follow links on the website www.meersbrookhall.org.uk