Lower Brailes residents are concerned about the potential sale of the historic Brailes Institute, urging for its preservation.
Lower Brailes: The community is buzzing over the proposed sale of the Brailes Institute, a charming old Victorian building. Folks are worried it might be sold off, and many believe it should stay in public hands.
This building, built back in 1865, has quite the history. It started as a school and even served as a hospital during World War I. Sadly, it’s been sitting unused for a while now, and it’s not in great shape. The last thing it was used for was storage.
The charity that owns it, the Brailes Free School Foundation, decided to sell after an architect said fixing it up would cost a pretty penny, especially the roof. Rev. George Heighten, who leads the foundation, mentioned that the charity needs to focus on helping local causes instead of pouring money into repairs.
They’ve put it on the market for around £150,000, suggesting it could be turned into offices or homes. The ad even says it’s no longer needed by the community, which has raised some eyebrows.
Sarah Jayne-Matthews, a local resident, thinks it should be kept for the public. She even suggested it could be a small museum. After checking it out with her builder husband, she felt the renovation costs were doable.
She said, “The owners are the people of the village. The trustees want to get rid of it. I do think a public meeting is needed to discuss all the possibilities for the institute.”
Rev. Heighten mentioned that the Brailes Parish Council has asked for a meeting with the trustees to talk things over, but they haven’t set a date yet.
Amanda Wasdell from the parish council noted that some locals believe the building could serve various purposes, like a museum or a community shop. However, she pointed out that many groups struggle to find volunteers, and existing venues are often underused.
Rev. Heighten also said there’s been a lot of confusion on social media about the sale. He reassured everyone that they’re following the proper guidelines and that the sale is open and transparent.
It’s a tough situation, reflecting a broader trend where villages in England are losing cherished amenities. Just recently, Lower Brailes lost one of its pubs, but thankfully, the George Hotel is still around for now.
