WITH a £1.3 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund the Kelmarsh Trust have been able to begin restoring areas Kelmarsh Hall which are at risk.
Below stairs areas formerly used by those who worked in the hall will be preserved and opened for visitors to see, including a butler’s pantry, bake house and footman’s room in the basement of the main house and a wash room and ironing rooms in a separate laundry block.
Currently, visitors who are given guided tours of the Grade I listed hall learn about its residents throughout history but this unique project will mean that for the first time, the voices of those who worked at Kelmarsh Hall and remained hidden will be heard.
The project will offer visitors a full sensory experience through modern technology as the lives of those who worked below stairs are brought to life, from the evocative smells of the wash room to the sound of servants’ chatter and footsteps as they deliver the laundry. The use of technology will help visitors to interpret the rooms in detail, while augmented reality will bring the spaces to life with period characters appearing to tell their story.
It is the biggest ever restoration project undertaken at Kelmarsh Hall and the team are excited about what it will offer visitors and the local community.
Kelmarsh Hall is recruiting new volunteers to join their team from August 2017 onwards. As part of the Tunnelling Through the Past project, visitors will soon be able to visit the Hall on more days of the week as well as viewing the servants’ quarters and laundry for the first time.
This is an exciting time to join the team at Kelmarsh and to help them open the hall to the public. If you love history, enjoy meeting new people and like sharing stories then this is the place for you.
There are a variety of roles available from welcoming visitors and telling them the stories of the hall, to assisting with school visits and family activities, and looking after the archive and collection.
To apply, visit www.kelmarsh.com/AboutUs/Volunteers to download the role descriptions and application form. If you would like to speak to the Volunteer Coordinator directly, email or call 01604 686543.