What’s Happening Under the Tent……..
Our Latest Update
Nenthead Chapel Project is nearing the end of its renovation phase! We are looking forward to opening the new community-owned Arts & Visitors Centre in the Spring of 2019. The Centre will be a place to socialise, reminisce, share experiences and ideas or work.
Nenthead Arts & Visitor Centre will house a unique arts and events space, a café, exhibition/ gallery space, two workshop/ meeting rooms, a small retail area and a commercial catering kitchen which will be available for community use.
There will be many opportunities to get involved over the coming months; to share your ideas, skills or interests. Currently, our main volunteer ask is for people who have;
- Copywriting skill/experience
- Accountancy skill/experience
- Database/content management skill/experience
- time and energy to join the board becoming a Director of the Society
We are also looking for local artists, musicians and academics to run short courses and events.
If you would like to do any of the above or have ideas or connections, please get in touch with Maxine - our Activities Co-ordinator. (eMail or mobile : 07926381211 )
By working together, we will make the most of this inspiring venue for the whole community.
We are recruting
ALSTON MOOR EVENTS CALENDAR – a great stocking filler
Available from shops and post offices around the Moor, Alston Town Hall or by contacting us.
We plan to make this an annual production – apologies if we missed you this year, but get your dates and photos to us next year and we’ll make sure you’re included.
Price £4.00 (+£1.00 if postage is required). Order now – numbers are limited!
Scaffold Tours
We recently ran a number of scaffold tours, giving people the opportunity to get up on the scaffolding and see the wonderful restoration work up close. Adrian Walker of Walker Conservation led the tours which were enjoyed by all. Watch out for future events...
Restoring glory and telling the story….
What's it all about?
The chapel will become;
-
Before the Restoration:
Nenthead Chapel's Past
Nenthead Chapel sits in the middle of one of the foremost mining villages of the North Pennines. The village of Nenthead was designed by the London Lead Mining Company as a ‘model’ village and was at one time at the forefront of social reform. Nenthead was the first village in Britain to have electric street lighting and the ‘Reading Rooms’ were the first free public lending library in the UK. Nenthead has a fascinating story to tell……..
The former Methodist Chapel, a Grade II Listed Building, stands on a site close to where John Wesley held his outdoor sermons. At one time the entire population of Nenthead (close to 2,000 people in its heyday) would have worshipped in the Chapel regularly. They had to, or else thy didn’t get paid! Services ceased in 2002 and in the intervening years the building has been closed to the public and fallen into disrepair. -
Present:
Modern Day…….
The community of Nenthead are working together to save this important landmark. They plan to bring the Chapel back to life in the heart of the village. The Chapel now belongs to Nenthead and work is underway to open the chapel doors again, with a new look and as a place where locals and visitors can enjoy a little bit of history, meet up and take a well-earned rest.
Under the banner of ‘Nenthead Chapel Community Project’ a Heritage Lottery Grant of £1,699,500 has been secured. Matched funding has also come from Eden District Council, Cumberland Building Society, The Hadfield Trust, various Quaker organisations and individual members of the local community. -
The Future
Securing the Future
The Chapel will provide a warm welcome for locals and the many visitors who spend time here. Ambitious plans include a café, local shopping experience, exhibition space and workshop space.
Explore this site to find out how you can be involved and to watch the progress
Video about the Nenthead Chapel Project
Work will start again on the chapel at the beginning of September. Walker Conservation Specialists Limited made a successful bid to complete the restoration work and their tender has been approved by the Heritage Lottery Fund. You may recognise the faces – Marcus and his brother Adrian have set up their own company and this is their first big job. We’re looking forward to working with them and wish them every success.