Corner House window renewal

Sun 16 Mar, 07:37 (last edited on Sun 16 Mar, 07:55)

Alex, the windows aren't being "replaced" .. that's the whole point (as Roy's Chronicle article explains). They're being thoroughly refurbished and non-intrusively insulated.

I'm not sure what the staircase issue is - there's no vestige left (nor has there been in living memory) of any staircase older than the current one - and only remnants, now cleared, of any other stairs in the building .. those that used to issue into what is now the cupboard in the Oliver Watney room.

The withdrawn application was in respect of some more far-reaching changes which have been postponed sine die in the light of revised intentions about the Corner House's use in the next few years. Staircase removal/replacement was part of that (to make the first floor more accessible to those with impaired mobility), but is not now happening. As Steve says, the staircase is still very much there!

We've a Trustees' meeting tomorrow, and I'll ask those more knowledgeable than me what they know about any of this. Certainly the work being done is, as far as I'm aware, entirely in line with any official consents (or absence of them) - that's, of course, part of our architect's brief.

Sun 16 Mar, 01:23

I was in the Corner House today (Saturday) to get some equipment for the quiz the Street Fair runs on behalf of the charity. If the staircase has been removed, then I'm not sure how I got to the attic room.

Sat 15 Mar, 23:43

John, in addition to the window 'replacement' you mention I'm aware that the staircase has been removed - presumably for replacement also. It appears that (looking at the WODC website) the listed building consent application for changes to the Corner House were withdrawn - can you please clarify.

Sat 15 Mar, 09:01

This is progressing well, and we look forward to reopening the Corner House in a few weeks' time after an important step towards our bringing the building up to twenty-first century standards has been completed.

Roy Scott, our Chair of Trustees, has written more fully about this in the latest Chronicle;  but a small important point to add to his article is that, along with other benefactors, we're very grateful to the Charlbury Beer Festival committee for their generous contribution towards this phase of the building's renovation.  Thank you!

(The bookshop will reopen when the Corner House itself does, but with the increased use of the building by others we'll soon have less room for the processing of book donations.  May I take this opportunity of thanking you for your support in the past ... and asking that in future you take extra care only to give us items that you can realistically imagine others wanting to buy.  Half-completed crossword books, old hardbacks missing their spines, damp & wrinkled paperbacks -- all these have been a regular feature of our donated stock in the past, and I commend the use of your blue bin, rather than mine, for such items in future.  Thank you.)