Richard Jefferies' home may be sold by council (From Swindon Advertiser)
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Richard Jefferies' home may be sold by council
1:10pm Thursday 26th February 2009 in News By Barrie Hudson
Richard Jefferies' home at Coate
WRITER Richard Jefferies’ Swindon home could be sold.
The building at Coate was home to the young writer for many years and is now a museum to the environmentalist.
Now it has emerged that Swindon Council is looking at the long-term future of the site and that it could be sold.
But Coun Phil Young, the cabinet member for culture, regeneration and economic development, said the sale would be the worst case scenario.
Jean Saunders, the honorary secretary of the Richard Jefferies Society, said: “We would be totally devastated if the Richard Jefferies’ house and museum was to be sold to some commercial venture.
“We get visitors from all round the world. Richard Jefferies really is a guiding light to people interested in agricultural history.
“We feel the borough council owes it to us to keep the museum.”
The society is due to hold a meeting of its executive council on Saturday, to discuss the possibility the building could be sold.
Coun Young said: “We’ve got no intentions of selling that site. That’s a worst case scenario.
“That’s a very long way down the line and that’s not going to happen.
“Clearly this is very much a cultural activity that we’d like to protect.
“We want to work with the society to work out how we can facilitate a secure future for the museum in the premises.We’re hoping there will be a very positive outcome.”
Coun Young said the council and society planned to meet in the next couple of months, but no firm date has been set.
He emphasised that there were a number of possible ways forward and that the matter has not yet been discussed by the council.
Mrs Saunders warned the society could struggle if it was forced to find a new location for the museum.
She said: “It may well be that the Richard Jefferies’ Society might have to find a way of doing it ourselves. It’s a daunting prospect for what is essentially a small literary society. We’re set up as a literary society, not as an organisation that runs a public building.”
The Richard Jefferies’ Society owns most of the items on display.
All the 15 people that run the museum have contributed financially over the years to keep it going, with Mrs Saunders putting £1,000 of her own money in two years ago.
The museum is open one day a month from October to April and three days a month from May to September.
Comments(31)
Atomic_Pond
says...
1:28pm Thu 26 Feb 09
Oh and all the uni students studing litrature!!!
RFM
says...
1:46pm Thu 26 Feb 09
Well worth subsidising from Council Tax payers' pockets then! Especially as it is open so often to accommodate all of its visitors!
Justin Tomlinson
says...
2:03pm Thu 26 Feb 09
The Council and the Richard Jefferies society have already met on a number of occassions, and had very positive and constructive discussions looking at best way to protect the building in the long term. The Council has given the society a number of options to consider.
The reality is the building needs investment due to its age, it has been targeted by vandals and is only open for a very limited time in the year. The society have been fantastic in doing all they can to promote and open the facility to a wider audience, which is a great credit to them and their members.
yeti
says...
2:06pm Thu 26 Feb 09
Always Grumpy
says...
2:12pm Thu 26 Feb 09
pascoe
says...
2:39pm Thu 26 Feb 09
Jean Saunders
says...
2:41pm Thu 26 Feb 09
RFM wrote:The Museum is open to the public 24 days a year. It is also open on request and is used for regular meetings, projects and by writers groups. If you would like to help, RFM, we could open more often.
The museum is open one day a month from October to April and three days a month from May to September. Well worth subsidising from Council Tax payers' pockets then! Especially as it is open so often to accommodate all of its visitors!
All the work at the Museum is done and paid for by volunteers (who also meet their own expenses) and entrance to the Museum is free. The Borough Council cover heating bills, insurance, etc. We keep it clean, update the displays, pay for publicity, provide leaflets, and try to keep the gardens tidy. We have raised funds to help with repairs.
Perhaps you would like to take a look around at our next open day next Wednesday - 10am-4pm? It is a charming little Museum.
We know that Swindon Borough Council do not want to lose it - this story is a bit premature.
Jean Saunders
says...
2:46pm Thu 26 Feb 09
pascoe
says...
2:51pm Thu 26 Feb 09
pascoe
says...
2:56pm Thu 26 Feb 09
Always Grumpy wrote:How can you talk like that AG so not respectful. Like i said you talk out of your a** sometimes,you need to watch your langwege, i know i am not a great speller but i am not rude like you.How would you feel if someone said it about yourhouse.
It would make a fine builders hut for when the development of the site starts as I assume there are already toilets installed. When building is finished, it can then be demolished and the space it occupies used for something useful.
flicky
says...
3:16pm Thu 26 Feb 09
And I agree Mr AG is not always as polite as he should be.
Don't worry about his crack about your being one of my students. I can understand what you say, as can everyone else.
I think there are a lot of sad old men posting on this site with too much time on their hands.
AG..ever thought of joining U3A?
It will get you out of the house away from the computer...and there is LOTS to learn!!(£18.00 per year)
I'm sure your retirement pension could stretch to that!
Jock Strap
says...
3:53pm Thu 26 Feb 09
Always Grumpy
says...
3:53pm Thu 26 Feb 09
pascoe wrote:What 'langwege' would that be then?
Always Grumpy wrote:How can you talk like that AG so not respectful. Like i said you talk out of your a** sometimes,you need to watch your langwege, i know i am not a great speller but i am not rude like you.How would you feel if someone said it about yourhouse.
It would make a fine builders hut for when the development of the site starts as I assume there are already toilets installed. When building is finished, it can then be demolished and the space it occupies used for something useful.
Always Grumpy
says...
3:55pm Thu 26 Feb 09
flicky wrote:Here, less of the old!
Thank you for your support, pascoe. It is good to hear that you see reason.
And I agree Mr AG is not always as polite as he should be.
Don't worry about his crack about your being one of my students. I can understand what you say, as can everyone else.
I think there are a lot of sad old men posting on this site with too much time on their hands.
AG..ever thought of joining U3A?
It will get you out of the house away from the computer...and there is LOTS to learn!!(£18.00 per year)
I'm sure your retirement pension could stretch to that!
pascoe
says...
4:46pm Thu 26 Feb 09
my kids was talking about coate in school and nobody in there class wants to see it built anywere near.
the teacher didn't seem to think muchof the idea to.
PeeveD
says...
6:39pm Thu 26 Feb 09
Jean Saunders wrote:1) A museum that only opens 24 days of the year ??? Wow..... that's showing demand!
RFM wrote: The museum is open one day a month from October to April and three days a month from May to September. Well worth subsidising from Council Tax payers' pockets then! Especially as it is open so often to accommodate all of its visitors!The Museum is open to the public 24 days a year. It is also open on request and is used for regular meetings, projects and by writers groups. If you would like to help, RFM, we could open more often. All the work at the Museum is done and paid for by volunteers (who also meet their own expenses) and entrance to the Museum is free. The Borough Council cover heating bills, insurance, etc. We keep it clean, update the displays, pay for publicity, provide leaflets, and try to keep the gardens tidy. We have raised funds to help with repairs. Perhaps you would like to take a look around at our next open day next Wednesday - 10am-4pm? It is a charming little Museum. We know that Swindon Borough Council do not want to lose it - this story is a bit premature.
2)If it was to remain open for school trips/writers groups etc then make them pay!
3)Swindon Borough Council do not pay for the heating/insurance etc... I DO! And so does every other council taxpayer in SWINDON!
4)The land that this part time curio is on must be worth a fortune. Sell teh house/land, add the cash to the council coffers and invest in driving this town towards the future. The past isn't going to pay anyones way!
g5wq
says...
6:57pm Thu 26 Feb 09
AFTER ALL THEY ARE WILLING TO SELL THE LAND NEXT DOOR TO DEVELOPERS FOR THE SAME AMOUNT .
THE COUNCIL DONT OWN THAT HOUSE, WE DO , THE PUBLIC WHO PAY TAXES .
Loveall
says...
8:24pm Thu 26 Feb 09
Jiver
says...
9:15pm Thu 26 Feb 09
I moved all the way, from a beautiful home, near Cokes Lane, and I still have to put up with the weasely bloke from up the road.
Still, it could be a blessing in disguise.
Sell the Jefferies Museum to the trust for £1.
seems to be an acceptable practice.
Always Grumpy
says...
9:18am Fri 27 Feb 09
Jiver wrote:Jiver, Where's Cokes Lane then?
I can't believe it.
I moved all the way, from a beautiful home, near Cokes Lane, and I still have to put up with the weasely bloke from up the road.
Still, it could be a blessing in disguise.
Sell the Jefferies Museum to the trust for £1.
seems to be an acceptable practice.
More importantly, I'd be more than happy to pay £2 for the building. I could then rent it out to the builders for their tea hut and make a small fortune. Mrs Always Grumpy would be more than happy to make small cakes and scones to sell, thus suplementing our meagre pension even more.
Yes, there's money to be made out of this development. Jock Strap and PeeveD are you interested in splitting the £2 three ways and joining me in this money making enterprise? As soon as my £2 offer is accepted I'll let you know.
Hassanein
says...
3:18pm Fri 27 Feb 09
PeeveD
says...
3:23pm Fri 27 Feb 09
Hassanein wrote:Oh Dear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would like to see this lovely English house. How do I get there please Jean?Not working at present so I could help out if you like. I live very near so could help you by cutting the grass and do a bit of painting etc. Please let me know.
Please get a job Hassanein.... SAVE YOURSELF!!!!!
Jock Strap
says...
4:18pm Fri 27 Feb 09
Hassanein
says...
5:29pm Fri 27 Feb 09
Please Jean reply. i live close in the new houses nearby.
Jock Strap
says...
7:23pm Fri 27 Feb 09
Hassanein
says...
8:57pm Fri 27 Feb 09
flicky
says...
9:35pm Fri 27 Feb 09
I will see Jean Saunders next week at the Coate Inquiry and will mention your kind offer to her.
I'm sure she will be delighted to have help with cutting the lawns and trimming bushes.
Perhaps you could come to Richard Jefferies House when it is next open?
It is directly opposite the petrol station as you leave the Coate roundabout to go to the hospital.
Open between 10am and 4pm.
Go to the front door , which will be open.
Then Jean can discuss what needs attention in the house and outbuildings.
Thank you for the offer of help. It is very kind of you.
But i'm afraid we do not have any ladies with fair hair at the house...you will have to look elsewhere for those!!
Jean Saunders
says...
7:55am Sat 28 Feb 09
Hassanein wrote:Thank you so much for your kind offer of help. People are very slow to come forward to do something without financial reward these days, so I am most grateful.
But I am a British citizen/joint with Egyptian passport. i am entitled to these things, can't you see?It is cest la vie as they say in France.Can someone tell Jean to reply please soon as i wish to help and not be a burden to anyone.Also i am looking for a nice English wife again with fair hair, we don't have them in my country.
Hope to see you Wednesday week at the Museum, if you can make it. Good luck with the job search.
Jock Strap
says...
8:01am Sat 28 Feb 09
Hassanein wrote:I think you just want a British passport as well!! Plenty of work in Egypt surely?
But I am a British citizen/joint with Egyptian passport. i am entitled to these things, can't you see?It is cest la vie as they say in France.Can someone tell Jean to reply please soon as i wish to help and not be a burden to anyone.Also i am looking for a nice English wife again with fair hair, we don't have them in my country.
Hassanein
says...
8:28pm Sat 28 Feb 09
it.as I feel the cold here in England.
I do not want to work in Egypt, it is better to be in England with my brothers and nephews.This is my life now but the weather is cold.
I would like to find work but where I live my people have no jobs also.
So what am I to do Jock? You say I want a British passport but you are not right.You do not know me. i am British citizen joint with Egyptian passport. i have all i need.
ListenToReason says...
1:21pm Thu 26 Feb 09