Future Building Conservations
15 Historic Buildings Awaiting Re-erection
In the face of changing regulations and evolving land demands, numerous buildings that now stand proudly at COAM were once slated for alteration, scrapping, or destruction.
The Chiltern Hills, with their extensive history, face the challenges of a growing demand for housing and modern facilities. While this demand is understandable, it is the responsibility of Museums like COAM to safeguard as much as possible—not only in terms of buildings but also in preserving the landscape and cultural heritage.
Currently, 15 buildings patiently await re-erection, including medieval timber-framed dwellings and the renowned Maple Cross Studios. This iconic recording studio, owned by Jack Jackson (the 'Father of DJs'), hosted legendary artists such as Motorhead, Elton John, Dr Feelgood, Ian Dury, and more.
Chiltern Open Air Museum is determined to reconstruct this unique piece of history alongside its diverse collection of vernacular architecture from the Chilterns. Your support can contribute to preserving these invaluable elements of our cultural legacy.
Preservation and Functionality: Getting the Balance Right
Balancing preservation with functionality is an intricate challenge. Physical artifacts like buildings naturally undergo decay over time, requiring repairs and replacements for continued use. A living museum must ensure that its structures, while authentic, remain usable. In this spirit, genuine alterations are made, such as acquiring the forge's hearth from a similar Victorian forge in Naphill and the bellows from Leavesden Hospital. These replacements enable COAM to offer visitors a tangible connection to history, an experience rather than a distant observation. This approach underscores the importance of preserving both cultural and physical history, allowing for discernment when narrating our past. With its array of ordinary homes and workplaces, COAM strives to engage visitors in a history not just preserved but sustained—a narrative where their role transcends mere remembrance to active inhabitation.
Conserving buildings in the long term
Re-erecting rescued buildings marks just the initial phase of the Museum's efforts to preserve them for future generations. Sustaining structures like our Toll House and rethatching older buildings are ongoing projects that demand both funding and volunteers to ensure the ongoing process of conservation. Your support is invaluable in safeguarding these pieces of history.
