A Victorian Prefabricated Building from Oxfordshire
The Vicarage room is an example of a Victorian wooden-framed, pre-fabricated structure. It was procured by the local vicar, Reverend F. Cohen, from the Wire Wove Waterproof Roofing Company of London.
Documentation discovered during the dismantling process, carried out by Museum volunteers, included delivery notes shedding light on its origin. Originally designated as the Church meeting room, this building served as a versatile space for parishioners to gather and participate in various events, frequently announced in the local Thame Gazette.
Thame Vicarage Room at the Museum
In January 1912, recognising the inadequacy of the existing Thame Vicarage room, a decision was reached to construct a new and larger Church Hall on Nelson Street. Consequently, the Vicarage room was put up for auction in 1913 by the Vicar. Purchased by the auctioneer, Mr. Millburn, it was relocated to Aylesbury, serving as a furniture store on his premises.
In 1989, Mr. John Milburn, the grandson of the auctioneer, generously donated the building to the Museum.
During the re-erection process at COAM in 1990, three labels were discovered behind the dado paneling inside the hall, one of which was the consignment address label: Rev’d J.J. Cohen, Thame Vicarage, Thame Station, GWR.
Building Thame Vicarage Room
The Thame Vicarage Room is primarily constructed with a wooden framework. Originally, the cladding featured a newly invented material developed by Douglas Allport around 1881. This innovative material combined steel wire gauze with papier-mâché, creating large sheets that were coated with waterproof paint and stretched onto a wooden frame to form walls. The same material could also be used for roofing.
Manufactured by the Wire Wove Waterproofing Company of London, this material was utilised for the original construction of the building. However, due to significant damage, modern substitute material was used for the outer covering of the walls during the restoration process. The building's original colours, Fenton Red and cream, were carefully reproduced after investigation. The upper wall panels, made of new hardboard covered with brown paper, retain a large proportion of the original moldings to preserve the building's character. The clock within the room, though older, came with the building and features dates scratched on its rear dating back to repairs or cleaning, with the oldest date found being 1891.
The tortoise stove that provides warmth in the room is not original, but it is representative of the type of heating typically installed during the Victorian era. New fire bricks have been crafted and fitted, allowing the stove to be lit. These bricks were made from the original moulds, generously lent to the museum by Taylor and Portway Ltd, the original manufacturer.
An early photograph from Thame shows a porch on the front of the meeting room, which was absent when the building was dismantled.
Experience Thame Vicarage Room
In Thame Vicarage Room, you can engage in various historical activities, such as playing historic games like quoits or taking Victorian iron hoops onto the Village Green. Children have the opportunity to dress up in Victorian clothes for an immersive experience.