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PRESS RELEASE: LAUNCH OF HESTERCOMBE WATERMILL Tuesday April 20th 2010
Hands on historic energy centre at Hestercombe
The next dramatic phase at Hestercombe kicks off with the opening of historic Hestercombe Water Mill on April 20th following a year long restoration project. With it comes an innovative hands-on educational experience that will show visitors how this old property was renovated and restored and how historic and modern energies have been incorporated.
An unrivalled collection of energy sources dating from Victorian and Edwardian times will be showcased in the Water Mill. Star of the show in the Dynamo - House is the over-shot water wheel, exquisitely restored by leading mill wright Martin Watts and now powering equipment for demonstrations in the adjacent Mill Room to crush apples, grind corn and cut timber, activities that have all been prominent on the Estate over the centuries.
Hydro power from the water wheel is also powering the restored 1895 turbine that originally generated electricity for the Hestercombe estate. The electricity was stored in glass batteries, many of which were unearthed during the development work. Also in the Dynamo House is an acetylene plant which produced acetylene gas for the early gas lamps used in Hestercombe House, and a thermalume generator, which produced gas from petrol and air, also to fuel gas lamps. Taking pride of place in the centre of the Dynamo - House is a huge, ornate, Gas Holder, one of only two left in the country, used to store the gas. This was donated by the Industrial Archaeological Society who have given their backing to the project. These old technologies site side by side with a state of the art biomass boiler fuelled with wood from the Hestercombes’ sustainable woodlands, that provides hot water for the under floor heating.
The Hestercombe Water Mill complex was the brain child of Chief Executive of the Hestercombe Gardens Trust Philip White, who is delighted that this final piece of the Hestercombe jigsaw is now complete:
‘Over the last 16 years Hestercombe has undergone a remarkable transformation turning it into one of the nations top 20 gardens, and Somersets’ most visited garden. The Edwardian Jekyll/Lutyens garden has been fully restored, and the eighteenth century landscape garden brought back to life, literally from an over grown forest, but the mill and barn area was the last substantial unrestored complex on the Hestercombe Estate. We owe a debt of gratitude to the Heritage Lottery Fund for their £800,000 grant and to Viridor Credits for their £400,000 award, which together with our own fund raising efforts have enabled us to embark on this ambitious project.’
As well as opening up exciting education opportunities, the new development also provides a stylish new venue in the Barn, for conferences, weddings and other events.
Restoring the dilapidated buildings for twenty first century life however, was no mean feat, being Grade 11 listed, and partly designed by famous architect Edwin Lutyens as architect Robert Battersby from Architecton reflects:
‘With buildings like these, it’s about making the new in the spirit of the old. When you cast your eyes around you should still feel the original outlines, forms and shapes. It’s only when you start looking critically that you might realise what has actually been done.’
An army of skilled craftsmen from builders Coombes, have reinforced oak beams with steel, created complex scar-joints to replace rotten sections of elm beams in the barn roof and turned a damp, underground tunnel into a film viewing room.
The key to energy conservation is ultra thick insulation in the roof and under the floors; and small lobbies created to reduce heat loss. Dependency on artificial light has been minimised with huge, oak framed windows and roof lights. All scrap metal has been recycled, and old concrete crushed and used on garden tracks; original Victorian tiles, discovered during the restoration have been re-claimed and re-used. The aim has been to reduce energy consumption, improve environmental sustainability and maximise cost saving. A specially commissioned film of the restoration project will be available for educational purposes.
The Hestercombe Water Mill will be officially launched from April 20th with a celebrity ‘ribbon cutting ‘ followed by a black tie dinner on 23rd April and a Garden Tea Party on Sunday April 25th, that will capture the true spirit of days gone by with a fair ground feel: Tea and cake on the Orangery Lawns, Punch and Judy, magicians, morris dancing, brass bands. Open to everyone from 11am – 4pm. Usual garden entry rates apply, although entry is FREE those arriving in Victorian dress!
Come and celebrate a historic moment in a historic way at Hestercombe!
A chance to experience bliss....
On the first Friday of every month at 11.00a.m., the Orangery will become the inspirational venue for monthly meditation lessons.
The benefits of meditation are numerous, but to name a few
-It slows heart rate
-Lowers blood pressure
-Eases anxiety & stress
-Manages pain and prevents illness
-Creates contentment
-Sharpens your mind for work
-Balances your emotions
-Accesses the enlightened mind
-Can offer molecules more satisfying than alcohol, nicotine and marijuana
-Helps addictions, traumas & depression
-Focuses your dreams and desires
The lessons will be taken by Austin Wyse, a former electronics engineer from London who has been practicing and teaching meditation for decades. He is currently an energy therapist based in Somerset who specialises in good health and motivation.
Bring a cushion and wear warm comfortable clothes.
SAFE FUN PLAY AREA FOR CHILDREN - NOW OPEN BY THE PICNIC TABLES!
HESTERCOMBE NEEDS YOU! Become a volunteer TODAY! Don't bother with the gym - have a 'green' workout with the Gardening Team at Hestercombe. Phone now: 01823-414180
We are always making new friends and in addition to being able to offer Friends of Hestercombe half price entry into leading Somerset gardens such as Bishops Palace Wells, Forde Abbey, Lower Severalls, and Abbotsbury Sub Troopical Gardens the West Somerset Railway and new : KILVER COURT, in Shepton Mallet. Details of these attractions are on their websites:
www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk