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The Charleston Trust: Centenary Project

The Charleston Trust: Centenary Project

  • Clients:

    The Charleston Trust

  • Locations:

    Lewes, East Sussex

  • Project Value:

    £8.5m

  • Programme:

    2015-2019

  • Architects:

    Julian Harrap Architects - Conservation Architects

    Jamie Fobert Architects - New Build Architects

  • Cragg Duties:

    Project Manager

    Contract Administrator

    Business Planning

  • Procurement:

    JCT Traditional

  • Photos by

    Axel Hesslenberg (New Gallery images)

Project Details:

Charleston Trust was founded to restore the Charleston House, which has ever since been run as a highly successful museum.

The Centenary project works included a new access lane to remove vehicles from the centre of the site and increased car park facilities, the restoration of the Grade II listed historic barns to provide a new auditorium and public spaces for the activity programme, and a new exhibition centre and collections store. The final phase of the project saw the reconstruction of an original granary barn which serves as an education studio.

Due to the location and historic importance of the site there were significant conditions placed on the development by the statutory authorities, and we had to apply for a Natural England Ecology Licence for both bats and dormice, and an ordinary watercourse license. The Trust receives no public funding, and we actively supported the Trust's need to fundraise at a late stage of the project, by programming works to suit funder requirements and supporting fundraising applications.

Funding:

  • The National Lottery Heritage Fund