17th November 2009

UPDATE: TAR, SWEAT
& STEAM HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND PROJECT

We are pleased to report that the project is coming along well. Our Bomford and Evershed sleeping van has now been delivered to the local ‘SOLD’ (Special Objectives for the Local Disabled) workshops, where it’s interior is being reconstructed. When the van was rescued from Mildenhall in the early 1980’s, the interior was completely stripped bare because it had been used as a mess and tool van so, with the inside of the van, we are starting entirely from scratch. Luckily we have discovered an original interior blueprint in the MERL (Museum of Rural English Life) archive at Reading, which is being used as a template for this work. To help with green issues, reclaimed pine timbers from old church pews are being utilised for the bunk slats, tabletop and many other details.
  
Our museum Steam Section members reconstructed the exterior of the van body in early 2009 to a very high standard and it looks superb! 80% of this work could only be achieved by using new specially prepared timbers, as over its 100-year life it had suffered quite severely from the weather, and what seem to have been several mishaps along the way! Fortunately the under frame needed little attention, except a thorough repaint. The oiler caps that were missing from the wheels could have been a problem, but have now been donated by a member who owns the Ruston steamroller that resides at our museum.

Other exhibits apart from the roadman’s sleeping van are also receiving attention, although no major work is anticipated on any of these items. “Stormer” our Armstrong Whitworth steamroller is to be exhibited in her ‘workaday clothes’, so to this end she had a repaint several years ago in anticipation of giving her that ‘well weathered’ look. An essential item in our display will be our century old Lott & Walne water cart, which will be provided with all the usual necessary essential accessories. Provision is even being made to enable it to be harnessed up once again with a horse, which we will be putting to the test at some time in the future! After all, how many horse drawn water carts have you seen on the rally field?

Meanwhile, several local firms have been selected to undertake the design, management co-ordination, construction and, finally, erecting the actual exhibition building. This essential work is running a little late but should be completed by early 2010, giving us ample time to prepare for our opening in April 2011.

Of course, much else goes on behind the scenes, as in all Heritage Lottery Funded applications, and a small team of five volunteers hold regular meetings to monitor how things are progressing. This creates an enormous volume of paperwork, mostly computer generated, along with a sizeable amount of phone calls and letter writing etc.etc. Luckily, the team are all ‘regulars’ at our museum at Carlton Colville, so some time and effort can be saved to help in keeping everything on track. As can be imagined our team is convinced that once completed, our “Tar, Sweat and Steam” exhibition will be something to be proud of, so do make a date in your diary to come and see our progress, and watch this space!