News: January 2022

Welcome to 2022 from the Committee of the Friends.  We hope that you have managed to survive the trials and tribulations of Covid, and that you, like us, are looking forward to getting out and about in 2022.
 
The committee has not been idle in these difficult times.  Necessity is the mother of invention, so when we could not hold indoor meetings to raise money, we looked outside the ‘box’ and signed up for a stall at the artisan markets in Rochester High Street on the 2nd Saturday of April, June, July, August, September and October.  We also signed up for a stall at the City of Rochester Society’s Craft Fair for the two weekends either side of the Dickensian Christmas Festival.
 
Our stalls, selling mostly pre-used jewellery as well as other small objects d’art, have raised a healthy sum in 2021 which means we can continue to support work at the House. We also plan to attend the artisan markets in 2022 and the craft fairs organised by the City of Rochester Society.
 
At this point we would like to thank all those who kindly donated items for the stall and helped with the setting up, packing up and lunchtime cover. 

If you have items you would like to donate - good quality items of jewellery or small objects d'art, please contact us on [email protected].

Window Work at the House
It has long been the aim of the Friends to help with the cost of repairs to the windows at the House.  A quote some time ago for all the necessary work came to over £26,000.  This is out of our reach at the moment, but we are working on the windows in the meeting room so that they open and close, making it more compliant (and more comfortable) when we hold our talks in that room. There are all sorts of hoops to go through when working on a Grade 1 building, but hopefully the work will be done by the summer.

One of the windows needing repair

Display about  ‘The Worthies’
Those of you who came to Claire Gapper’s talk about the 3rd floor wall paintings will have learned that the figures are referred to as ‘The Worthies’.  As the 3rd floor of the House is not yet accessible by the public, the Friends have paid for professional photographs to be taken so that an interpretative display can be set up in the room on the 2nd floor where extensive decorative wall paintings have been uncovered and conserved. A large print will be displayed over the fireplace and the extant wall paintings protected so that the temporary timber and Perspex barrier can be dismantled to allow access into the room. The council will pay for the printing and display work.  This will greatly enhance the presentation of this area of the House, and the Friends are pleased to have helped bring this work about.

Gardening Group
The Gardening Group continues to work on ‘our’ patch just outside the railings, with the help of Norse and Rotary.  Watch out for the crocuses and English bluebells in the spring.  If you would like to help contact the Friends on [email protected].