gainsborough old hall management plan · aims and objectives 27 performance indicators 36 ......
TRANSCRIPT
Gainsborough Old Hall Management Plan
2006/2010
July 06
LIST OF CONTENTS Page no. Introduction 3
What is special about Gainsborough Old Hall? 3 The History of the Old Hall 4 The Old Hall in Context 4
Mission Statement 4 Strategic Aims 5 Situation Review 5 Visitor Figures 5 Staff Structure 8 Volunteers 9 Friends of the Old Hall 9 Building 9 Collection 10
Collections Management 10 Visitor and Community Services 11
Marketing 12 Community Use 12
Standards 13 Swot analysis 14 Position Statement (as it relates to the Conservation Plan) 15
Conservation, repair and maintenance 15 Context and Setting 18 Gaps in Understanding 18 Varieties of Expectation 20 Access and Presentation 21 Interpretation 22 Collections 23 Site Management 25
Aims and Objectives 27 Performance Indicators 36 Appendices Appendix 1 – Financial Statement 38 Appendix 2 – Ground Plans 42 Appendix 3 – The Continuum Report 43
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INTRODUCTION This plan has been produced by Sue Scott (Principal Keeper of Gainsborough Old Hall) and Mike Cavanagh (Area Service Manager – North), in consultation with stakeholders, to inform the future care, maintenance and development of Gainsborough Old Hall. In order for the building to move forward in a planned and positive way the following reviews were undertaken:
• A Conservation Plan was completed in November 2004 (by Oxford Archaeology).
• An Access Audit was undertaken in 2004 by Lincolnshire Association for People with Disabilities (LAPD).
• A report on permanent display and interpretation was carried out in September 2005 (Continuum Report).
The above documents have been used to inform this plan. The plan includes objectives up to 2010 but will be reviewed and updated annually. The purpose of the management plan is as follows:
• To provide a clear view of the current situation. • To establish a way forward for future long term care, interpretation and
use of Gainsborough Old Hall. • To establish how this vision can be achieved by identifying a number of
key strategic aims and setting out a series of objectives that contribute to meeting them.
The first part of the plan introduces the Old Hall’s mission statement and strategic aims, before moving on to a situation review, and position statement as it relates to the Conservation Plan. It then goes on to detail a series of objectives under each strategic aim, before finishing with details of the site’s performance indicators. What is special about Gainsborough Old Hall? Gainsborough Old Hall today has a powerful presence as a splendid example of a late medieval aristocratic house in an urban setting. It is remarkable for a variety of reasons, and its architectural significance is exceptional both locally and nationally. The survival of the kitchens gives a rare chance to observe arrangements for the functioning, administration and feeding of a late medieval household. The lodgings range, east range and tower all retain their domestic interiors and are invaluable insights into living arrangements and private spaces. The status of the house is demonstrated by the survival of the impressive Great Hall with its elaborate oriel window and untrussed roof. Later developments also represent areas of historic significance, which are in themselves considerable. Developments and additions of the later Burghs and the Hickmans demonstrate how the house continued to be used and how
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it functioned. Later uses, such as the Queen Adelaide public house, the coarse linen factory and the theatre are still integral parts of the story of the Hall. Victorian repairs and re-ordering saved the Hall from destruction and are important examples of the 19C movement to revive the middle ages through ‘restoring’ its buildings. The most remarkable aspect of the building is that it survives and remains essentially an almost intact late medieval house. The History of the Old Hall Gainsborough Old Hall is a grade 1 listed magnificent timber framed manor house built around 1460 by Sir Thomas Burgh. It stands in the heart of Gainsborough, the town that grew up around the manor. William Hickman, a London merchant bought the house in 1596. He undertook some improvements but many original features remain intact. Richard III and Henry VIII are amongst its royal visitors. The Pilgrim Fathers and John Wesley worshipped within its walls. William Rose, the inventor of the first wrapping machine was born in the tenement buildings. The building has traditionally been viewed as ‘belonging’ to the town. It was saved, by the Friends of the Old Hall Association (FOHA), which was formed in 1949, not to be used merely as an historic building but as a meeting centre for the people of Gainsborough. The last owner, Sir Edmund Bacon rented the building to FOHA for a peppercorn rent until 1970 when he gave the building to the nation. It was then in the hands of the Ministry of Works. The Hall is now owned by English Heritage (EH) who pay a management fee to Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) who manage the building. English Heritage maintains the structure of the building and Lincolnshire County Council takes care of the day-to-day operation of the site. The Old Hall in Context Gainsborough Old Hall operates as part of Lincolnshire County Council’s Heritage services. As such it operates under their policies and guidelines. Significant developments and operations are fed into a Heritage Services Action Plan and consequently into an Area Action Plan which is reviewed annually. MISSION STATEMENT We aim to provide a quality visitor experience of the building and its collections for all and to promote community use. We will endeavour to maintain the fabric and history of the building to ensure the future
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preservation, development and relevance of the Old Hall to the communities it serves and as a building of national importance. STRATEGIC AIMS The 5 strategic aims set out below are considered of equal importance to each other and are not therefore in a prioritised order. Aim 5 for example, is no less or more important than aims 1 to 4. Aim 1 – Improve all forms of access to the Hall and the collection. Aim 2 – To ensure that the service is customer focussed and encourages learning, enjoyment and inspiration. Aim 3 – To improve the standards of management of the building and its collections. Aim 4 – To constantly aspire to raise performance in local, regional and national standards and performance indicators. Aim 5 – To inspire local people to take an interest and pride in the Old Hall by encouraging community use and involvement. SITUATION REVIEW Visitor Figures There has been a slow decline in the number of visits in person over the last five years. Contributing factors may include:
• National Trend • Changes in events programme • Changes in how the figures are reported • Competition from other leisure activities • Global events (e.g. 9.11 led to a reduction in visits from US tour
groups) • Negative perception due to local press coverage • Weak LCC website presence • Location (Gainsborough is not a well know tourist destination). • Parking restrictions • Staffing retention issues (for example Principal Keeper and Keeper of
Visitor and Community Services) • Competition from other sites in Gainsborough. For example, Richmond
Park is now the main focus for Big Draw and many more groups are offering workshops for children during school holidays.
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Visitors in person comparison
2000/2001 32,613 2001/2002 25,915 2002/2003 31,492 2003/2004 31,297 2004/2005 25,885 2005/2006 29,319
From the above figures, over the last 6 years there appear to have been two major ‘dips’ in visitor numbers, 01/02 and 04/05, while 00/01, 02/03 and 03/04 show a stable base of around 31,000 to 32,000 visitors. It is suggested that the drop in visitor numbers in 2001/2 can largely be accounted for by a combination of staff shortages, and national (foot and mouth) and international (9/11) events. The 2004/5 drop appears to have been the result of significant staff shortages for instance a Principal Keeper and later, a Keeper of Visitor and Community Services which impacted on the Old Hall’s events and exhibitions programme, and the marketing of them. If this is indeed the reason for the reduction in visitor numbers during these years it illustrates the value and importance of effective staff retention. 2005/6 was a transitional year owing to changes made to the events programme to arrest the decline in visitor numbers apparent in 04/05. The 05/06 figures show an increase on the previous year and it is expected in the coming years, figures will continue this upward trend as the new programme ‘beds down’.
VIS -FIGS 2004-2005
67%
7%
17%
9%
adults and complimentarychildrennon-lincs pupilslincs pupils
Visitor Figures 2004/5
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The above chart indicates the proportion of children visiting in school groups (Lincolnshire and non-Lincolnshire), children visiting outside of formal education (largely in family groups) and adult visitors. 26% of visits in person are made by children in school groups, and this figure is unlikely to change significantly from year to year as it represents the site’s total capacity for school visitation. Of the remaining 74%, a massive 67% of non school visits are made by adults and non-paying visitors (which include a mixture of adults such as Friends of the Old Hall Association and English Heritage pass holders, and under 5’s), leaving only 7% of the total visitor figure made by 5-16 year old children outside formal education. One of Lincolnshire County Council’s key corporate objectives 2005-9 is to ‘Improve Access’, and a key priority in 06/07 under this objective is to ‘Improve access to sport, culture and heritage facilities for young people’. With this priority in mind, staff have recently introduced a number of family friendly events and workshops, and are planning further targeted work to increase the number of children visiting the Old Hall outside formal education.
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GAINSBOROUGH OLD HALL
Staff Organisational Chart
VICTORIA MASON Senior Heritage Assistant (acting)
JON DUCKER Keeper of Visitor & Community Services
(acting)
JANICE NICHOLLS Keeper of Collections Management
KAREN SNELL Clerical Officer
SUE SCOTT Principal Keeper
PAUL HEATH Collections Access
Assistant (until Sept 06)
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JOAN SMITHSON 1 Full Time Heritage Assistant
RUTH ANDREWS
ANNE BRAZIL SHIRLEY CARVER
SHAUN CLARK KATHLEEN EDWARDSON
FRANCES EVANS KERRY POWELL WENDY REEVE
MARGARET SOWERBY JANET WILKINSON
10 Part Heritage Assistants
Volunteers Volunteers are recruited on a project-by-project basis. Gainsborough Old Hall has had very successful working relationships with local industry volunteers, the Heritage Centre and local historians helping on specific projects. Very successful work placement volunteers have come from Universities and many of these contacts have been maintained. LCC is currently working on a Volunteer Policy which when completed will be adopted by Gainsborough Old Hall. Friends of the Old Hall The original Friends of the Old Hall Association was formed in 1949 with the intention of saving the building from decay and neglect. The current Friends provide knowledgeable volunteers who deliver a tour guide service to pre-booked groups. They are also responsible for the maintenance and documentation of the parterre garden and beds. In November 2004 the Friends and Lincolnshire County Council entered into a ‘Working Together’ agreement to provide clarity of expectations and to enable both groups to work more effectively together to help achieve common goals. Other work undertaken by FOHA includes:
• Ambassadors • Fund raising • Production of merchandise • A social programme • Life Long Learning Programme • First Tuesday lectures and Sunderland lectures • Networking in the community • Research • Website • Publications • Archival resource
Building The building is open to the public from 10 am to 5 pm on Mondays to Saturdays throughout the year, and from 1 pm to 4.30 pm on Sundays from Easter to the end of October. 2006/7 admission charges are £3.70 for adults, and £2.50 for concessions. A family ticket is £9.90. An access group was formed in 2003 and an access audit was carried out on the site by the ‘Lincolnshire Association for People with Disabilities’. The main recommendations have been carried out. The summary noted that “the attitude of the staff was excellent and they were useful and showed a positive attitude towards the inclusion of disabled people”. Training is ongoing. From March 2006 the main disabled access door will be at the Parnell Street entrance and accessible toilets for disabled people will be completed. Clearer and more visible signage was recommended and will be reviewed as part of this document. Access to the first floor is via stairs and there are no current plans to install a lift because of the grade 1 listed nature of the building and
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the need to install 2 lifts to give full access to the upper floor (due to the full height of the Great Hall). A Scalamobile chair is available to take a wheelchair up the main staircase. An induction loop was recommended by the audit and is advocated by the FOHA, along with a video of the upper floor. Collection The collection at Gainsborough Old Hall forms part of the Lincolnshire County Council Heritage Collection. There is little space for storage on site and the conditions are far from ideal. An environmental monitoring system was installed in 2004/5 and indicates huge fluctuations in both relative humidity and temperature.1 Much of the collection is now stored off site and plans for transfer of other items are ongoing. The site holds a significant number of Gainsborough related artefacts, an extensive photographic collection on the area and items of local industrial history. There is a large social history element to this collection, which includes costume. All items were transferred into the ownership of Lincolnshire County Council in 1979. The collection of paintings by local artist William Millner has grown over the years and is largely made up of individual donations. The Bacon collection held at the Hall consists of family portraits and items of furniture. These still belong to the family and are mostly on display. We are in the process of formalising the loan agreement with Sir Nicholas Bacon. Collections Management Collections management includes all aspects of caring for the collection (circa 10,000 objects), including environmental monitoring, pest monitoring, improving storage conditions, completion of documentation, condition checking and making the collection accessible. Items identified as requiring remedial conservation are included in a rolling service-wide prioritised conservation programme. In 2004 an action plan was written to address the documentation backlog at the Old Hall and to create an electronic record for each item. East Midlands hub (now Renaissance East Midlands) funded a Documentation Assistant post. Phase 2 of the action plan will help eliminate specific backlogs, eg the permanent marking of objects, and an inventory is currently underway to locate and identify all items in the collection. Around 50% of the collection requires marking. A digital imaging project is also being undertaken. 585 objects from the collection already have digital images attached to the MODES (collections management) database. We are in the process of setting up a photographic studio in order to achieve this.
1 For example, on the morning of Sat Jan 28th 2006, the temperature in the Solar Gallery was 2.8º with relative humidity at 84.7%. A few hours later the temperature had risen to 9.3º and humidity dropped to 63.5%. Wild fluctuations such as these represent a significant danger to the collections.
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Running concurrently is the ongoing transfer of objects to improved storage facilities, which requires the identification of a suitable location (LCC heritage site), the completion of relevant documentation and the securing of the necessary funds for transport, etc. This time-consuming process involves liasing with the receiving site, and requires all documentation (including digital imaging) to be in place. Items are than carefully packaged before being transferred to the new location. Visitor and Community Services Gainsborough Old Hall runs an extensive programme of events. These events are usually well attended and have gained a good reputation. The programme is changed regularly, with the exception of the Christmas Craft Fair, which has run for over twenty years and still continues to be as popular as ever. The current temporary exhibition space (above the shop) is now being tested as a community space to increase visits by local groups. It is also planned to keep the space available to hold exhibitions to enable the site to respond more easily to local and national events. Workshops are run for children during August and these have a regular following. Outreach by staff at the Old Hall consists of talks to local adult groups as requested. Contact has been made with local schools and needs to be developed. Mediated outreach involving use of two new loans boxes will be piloted during 2006. There are regular pre-booked group visits to the Hall, especially during the summer months. Some of these take place outside of normal opening hours and many of the groups enjoy catering and a guided tour provided by a member of the Friends group. The teashop is a member of the ‘Tastes of Lincolnshire’ initiative and has received a positive report from their mystery shopper (report received Jan 06). Catering for all events is carried out on the premises by the staff. The education programme is thriving and offers a ‘Tudor’ experience to Key Stage 2 pupils (7-11 year olds). It can be easily adapted to Key Stage 1 (5-7 year olds) and Key Stage 3 (11-13 year olds). The programme is three times winner of the prestigious Sandford Award for Heritage Education and continues to be reviewed and kept up to date. There is a ‘Crime Scene Investigates’ initiative for KS3 pupils, which involves science and maths, and uptake of this has been encouraging. Younger visitors who are not in school groups can take around a detective briefcase, which helps to focus on certain items in the hall and contains activities, which families can do together. The Friends of the Old Hall Association organise a series of adult talks and lectures throughout the year on many diverse topics and these are all well supported.
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Marketing Gainsborough Old Hall does not operate a dedicated marketing budget. For the financial year 2006/07 there is a budget of £4,000 for general advertising and £16,860 for events and promotions, which covers all events, exhibitions and workshops. This sum must cover all expenses for the event as well as advertising, production of publicity and marketing costs. Fliers and posters for events are sent to Tourist Information Centres, Libraries and Heritage Sites four weeks in advance of events. Following this, two weeks in advance there is a further final hit in Gainsborough and District. Gainsborough Old Hall benefits from joint marketing and promotions ventures whenever possible. These include:
• EMU Education Brochure (LCC) • General leaflets and distribution (LCC) • Website (LCC) • WL Tourism Brochure • English Heritage Handbook (which does not include events) • Tastes of Lincolnshire • Things to Do in Lincolnshire (Lincolnshire Tourism) • Leaflet Swap – Bainland (Lincolnshire Tourism) • Lincolnshire Show • Lark in the Park • Riverside Festival • Staff • FOHA • Word of mouth • Local Press for free releases
Community Use A number of rooms are available for hire within the Hall, usually outside of normal opening hours (owing to the extensive use of the hall during the day by schools). The Hall plays host to many local events, for instance Gainsborough Folk Weekend, College presentations, Local Academy launch, and The Ghost Trail. Rooms are also available for private hire although the take up for this is lower. One reason for this may be the hire charges, which are higher than local competition. The Friends hold all their lectures and meetings at the Hall free of charge in return for the voluntary hours donated to the Hall, and the local Probus group meet on Monday mornings throughout the year. There is some potential for more community use at the Old Hall, though this is currently limited by the high levels of demand from schools.
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Standards The Old Hall currently holds the following ‘kite’ marks: Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Standard (VAQAS) Museums Accreditation Member of Taste of Lincolnshire Investor in People Sandford Award for Heritage Education x 3
SWOT ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
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- The Building - The Staff - The Conservation Plan - The Shop - The Tea Shop - Permanent exhibition
Review The Education Programme
- Open All year - Audio Tour - Varied Events
Programme - Part of a larger service - EH maintain the building- Was visited by famous
people: o Richard III o Henry VIII o Mayflower Pilgrims o John Wesley
- Lack of parking facilities - The building is cold - The telephone system - IT - Lack of storage for, Waste Costume Props Tools - Workspace - Physical access - The grounds are public - Lack of archived
material on development of the building
- Not on a developed tourist route
- Limited investment - Poor transport links
OPPORTUNITIES THREATS - The Conservation Plan - Permanent exhibition
Review - DDA improvements - A virtual tour - Geophysical Research - Develop Grounds - A management/
development plan - Development of shop - Development of tea
shop - Outreach - FOHA - Re-focus on the visitor
experience
- A negative perception in town due adverse press coverage
- Competition from other tourist attractions
- Environmental conditions
- Heavy usage from events taking a toll on the building
- Vandalism - Limited funds
POSITION STATEMENT IN RELATION TO THE CONSERVATION PLAN
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This section takes some of the main elements from the Conservation Plan (written in italics) and provides a current position statement in relation to the points made. Future actions to be taken forward are detailed in the aims and objectives section, which follows this position statement. 1. CONSERVATION, REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE
1.1 BUILDING CONDITION Establish a conservation philosophy for the Old Hall, which protects its historic integrity and areas of significance, and makes them accessible to public understanding. Future development and conservation of Gainsborough Old Hall will be undertaken only after full consideration of all implications. Care must be taken to preserve later work that is now an integral part of the building and shows its development. Establish regular, effective and funded programmes for buildings maintenance and repair. CURRENT POSITION
• A Conservation Plan has been commissioned and adopted. • A management plan has been drawn up from this. • English Heritage annual inspection. • LCC quinquennial inspections. • Visual checks. • A programme of delegated maintenance. • Philip Turton Consulting Service between July-Sept 2004 carried out
repair work. • English Heritage has been approached to extend the scope of the
Condition Survey to include roofs, guttering and other high level features.
1.2 VISITOR WEAR AND TEAR WITHIN THE BUILDING Continue to monitor and control the wear and tear on the building. With particular attention to floors and stud and plaster infill. To minimise the risk of damage to the historic fabric and contents of the Old Hall. CURRENT POSITION
• A review of the events programme has taken place and the programme is now better controlled.
• Large-scale events do not rely so heavily on moving of objects and furniture.
• Keeper, Collections Management patrols large events. • ‘Please do not touch’ notices are placed on relevant objects at these
events and other high usage times.
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• Some vulnerable rooms are no longer used for events, such as craft fairs.
• Risk assessments have been produced and acted upon for some events.
• Repair work has taken place to the kitchen floor. Ensure the historic fabric and contents of the Old Hall are maintained to acceptable standards of environment and security. CURRENT POSITION
• Continuous environmental monitoring, (a Hanwell monitoring system has been installed).
• Regular visual checks. • Some of the collections are now stored at the Museum of Lincolnshire
Life (MLL) under more acceptable conditions. • The upper west chamber has been rationalised. Items have been
racked, storage enhanced and items sent to MLL. • There is a collections management policy. • A Disaster Plan is in place. • A Disaster Kit is available on site. • Staff are trained in handling collections. • A housekeeping policy has been produced. • Staff are trained in house keeping procedures. • The wall painting in the lower inner chamber is continually monitored. • A humidifier has been purchased for use in the above room. • A physical barrier protects the wall painting. • The Principal Keeper of Conservation for LCC Heritage Services has
been consulted about care of vulnerable wall surfaces, etc. 1.3 RISKS OF DAMAGE TO FURNITURE The furniture within the building is at some degree of risk from visitor wear and tear. Protect the furniture from risks from special events. CURRENT POSITION
• Rope barriers are in place to protect furniture wherever possible. • Gloves worn when moving furniture in preparation for events. • Heritage Assistants (HA’s) have received training to handle furniture. • Keeper of Collections Management supervises preparation for events. • Events have been reviewed. • Panelled room is no longer used for events (such as craft fairs).
1.4 BIRD AND ANIMAL DAMAGE Pigeons threaten efficient rainwater run-off from roofs and guttering… CURRENT POSITION
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• Pigeons have been removed from the kitchen roof space and measures put in place to prevent re-entry.
• Visual checks take place. • A bat survey has taken place. At the time of the survey only one bat
was in residence. 1.5 PROTECTION OF EXTERIOR HALL AND GROUNDS Grounds are open to 24 hour unrestricted access, with no surveillance outside normal opening hours. CURRENT POSITION There is a problem with protection of the grounds, as there is a public footpath, which leads across the grounds. At the moment ball games are not discouraged in order to maintain good will. Grounds are used as a picnic space and at some events.
• Grounds are patrolled daily. • Regular fire drills. • Fire precautions are in place but do not cover the outside of the
building. • Litter is picked up regularly.
2. REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE To provide consistent long term maintenance and repair plan by defining the responsibilities of EH and LCC. To draw up a schedule which is proactive rather than reactive. 2.1 MAINTENANCE REGIMES To establish regular, effective and funded programmes for building maintenance and repair. Division between EH and LCC might be usefully clarified. CURRENT POSITION
• Visual inspections – daily. • EH Annual site meeting. • LCC quinquennial inspection. • A programme of delegated maintenance.
2.2 LACK OF INFORMATION ON EARLIER REPAIRS There is no centrally based or readily accessible permanent archive of information on past building works. Although the documentation for recent phases of repair work (1950s – 1980s) exists it is in private hands and personal memory. CURRENT POSITION
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• A filing cabinet has been set aside to keep records in. • Work has begun on collating these documents.
2.3 PAST APPROACHES TO CONSERVATION There are considerable variations in approaches and techniques employed for repair work……. In some cases these variations will be of archaeological interest as a record of changing technique. In some cases modern materials have been used and conflict with the character of historic spaces. CURRENT POSITION
• No work has taken place to unify the materials and techniques. 3.0 CONTEXT AND SETTING 3.1 PRESENTATION OF THE GROUNDS Part of the appeal of the building is its urban setting. Presentation and layout of the grounds derives from a scheme produced by Claude Phillimore which has been partially implemented. CURRENT POSITION
• The grounds are mostly laid to lawn and maintained by Continental Landscapes Ltd.
• This aspect has no historical relationship to the building. • The grounds are used by visitors and townspeople to picnic/relax on. • The FOHA gardening group has established an authentic, well-
researched parterre herb garden in the courtyard. 3.2 INTRUSIVE ELEMENTS AND OVERALL SETTING The main intrusions in external perceptions of the Hall are partly visual (parked cars against periphery of the site; the growth of trees concealing aspects of the Hall) and partly conceptual (…Edwardian suburban) which inhibits understanding of any earlier setting for the Hall. CURRENT POSITION
• Cars are parked on the roads surrounding the building. • Trees are overgrown. • The streets around the Hall are in a Conservation Area.
4. GAPS IN UNDERSTANDING 4.1 LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE BUILDING’S DEVELOPMENT ……Potential was demonstrated for an investigation of the standing structure. A research design is needed to define questions to be addressed, with a clear
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understanding of the need to provide time and resources to take advantage of future repair programmes……. CURRENT POSITION
• Little planned, professional investigation. • Detailed analysis of repairs to west wing in 1980s. • Dendrochronoligical sampling took place in 1980s.
4.2 ARCHAEOLOGICAL POTENTIAL; THE HALL …. the possibility of further evidence for the construction of the present Hall or its predecessors surviving beneath the present building or in the grounds…… CURRENT POSITION
• Results of the 1980s investigations demonstrated evidence of features beneath the Great Hall and the West Range.
4.3 ARCHAEOLOGICAL POTENTIAL; GROUNDS AND SETTING Little archaeological recording has taken place in the grounds……. Geophysical survey may be used as a non-destruction means of revealing evidence.... CURRENT POSITION
• Archaeology of the west wing is available (published in Gainsborough Old Hall. P Lindley – now out of print).
4.4 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY There is little detailed information available on the ecology of the site. CURRENT POSITION
• No documented investigation has taken place. 4.5 LACK OF AN ACCESSIBLE ARCHIVE Studies of the Hall are inhibited by the lack of a central resource of information. Records are held in private hands, by EH and by FOHA. CURRENT POSITION
• There is no central source of information. • Records of repairs from 1950s and 1980s are in private hands. • Information is held by EH. • Information is held by FOHA.
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5. VARIETIES OF EXPECTATION 5.1 PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS Expectations are diverse and depend on perceptions of local users and visitors from further afield. All visitors and users have a right to expect a high quality service and an equal chance to participate in activities on site. CURRENT POSITION
• Two community groups use GOH regularly for meetings, (Probus and FOHA).
• Rooms are available for hire but are in constant use by schools during term time.
• There is considerable scope for more community use outside of term time.
• Out of hours hire must cover costs. • Out of hours events must be monitored and considered a suitable use
for the building. • Summer and half term workshops are held on a regular basis. • Summer guided tours were available free for 2005 and these will be
developed into Outreach talks. • Visitors and townsfolk use the gift shop. • The teashop is open all year round. • The Hall has had several free open days. • GOH is represented on several local initiatives • Lectures are provided by FOHA each month. • FOHA work with Workers Educational Association (WEA) to provide
other lectures. • Gainsborough Old Hall has a working partnership with Lord Burgh’s
Retinue. This is a team of re-enactors who specialise in the medieval period and especially the Burgh family.
There is a potential conflict caused by trying to do too much, and the visitor experience could suffer as a result of this. 5.2 EDUCATIONAL USERS The Old Hall has an excellent reputation for KS2 provision. It would be prudent to seek to develop relationships with local schools and explore the possibility of more focussed lifelong learning provision. CURRENT POSITION
• Fully booked for school users for next academic year and part of the following year (KS2 with KS1 and KS3 provision when required.
• Three times winner Sandford Award for Heritage Education. • CSI Science programme for KS3/4. • Friends First Tuesday lecture series. • Occasional WEA courses run by FOHA. • Workshops for children.
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• Workshops for adults. • Events. • Exhibitions. • Plans to develop and provide a Victorian workshop for Museums and
Galleries Month 2006. 5.3 AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION There is a perception that GOH is not as well known as it ought to be. CURRENT POSITION
• Promoted by EH handbook. • Leaflet distribution. • Local press coverage. • Lincolnshire magazine features. • Plans to produce an audience development plan. • Web site.
6. ACCESS AND PRESENTATION 6.1 ACCESS TO SITE, SIGNAGE VEHICLE ACCESS AND PARKING Brown signage enables visitors to find the site. Street parking is restricted to 1 hour. The nearest car parks are shown on current leaflets and on the microsite. CURRENT POSITION
• Brown road signs to site. • West Lindsey District Council (WLDC) pedestrian signs to site. • Restricted street parking. • Temporary signage to ensure accurate information is given is now in
place. • English Heritage has agreed to review external signage in the Hall
grounds. 6.2 LIMITED ACCESS WITHIN BUILDING Most important rooms within the building are publicly accessible…. There would be grounds to consider making the upper west chamber, tower rooms and current office space open to the public if their functions could be transferred elsewhere. CURRENT POSITION
• Functions will remain in their current locations for the foreseeable future
6.3 ACCESS FOR VISITORS WITH DISABILITIES
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The LAPD Audit identified the main problems at GOH and recommended a range of improvements for visitors with disabilities……… The principal difficulties for visitors with mobility impairment are the irregular and variable floor levels….. ….inadequate signage was a general problem….. CURRENT POSITION
• A Disability Access Audit was carried out in 2003. • A new disabled access ramp 2006 to the east wing door. • A toilet for use by disabled visitors was installed in 2006. • A Scalamobile lift is supplied to enable visitors with restricted
movement to access the upper floors. • A loop is installed on the till for reception use. • A loop is available for the audio tour. • There is Braille signage to the toilet block. • There is illustrated information available for use by anyone unable to
access the first floor. 6.4 VISITOR ROUTE AND INTERPRETATION The current visitor route was identified in the Conservation Plan as being confusing. CURRENT POSITION
• It is not envisaged that the visitor route will change during the lifetime of this plan.
7. INTERPRETATION 7.1 PRESERVATION V PRESENTATION The theoretical ideal of maximum protection has to be balanced against reasonable visitor expectations. CURRENT POSITION
• A management plan has been produced 7.2 PROBLEMS OF PRESENTATION ON A MULTI-PERIOD SITE There is a need to establish what stories should be told in the interpretation of the Hall. This is especially acute where, as e.g. in the great hall, the space carries significance for more than one of the main periods. CURRENT POSITION
• Current interpretation focuses on the 15th Century.
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7.3 RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER MUSEUMS Areas of interest represented by the Old Hall relate closely to themes and topics for which other museums also have a responsibility… Avoid duplication of effort and look for areas where interpretations could be linked to other museums in LCC’s Heritage Service. CURRENT POSITION
• LCC cross-site working. • Principal Keeper co-ordinates Lincolnshire Heritage Forum. • Partnerships with Library and Sure Start. • Link between events at GOH and Gainsborough Model Railway
Society. 7.4 PRESENTATION OF INTERIORS; AUTHENTICITY AND RISKS The Transformation Project was a valuable exercise in research-based presentation, though there are risks of confusion in showing and using replica material alongside genuine collection items. CURRENT POSITION
• Probate records from 1490s available. • Probate records from 1620s available. • Transformation project was well researched.
7.5 INTELLECTUAL ACCESS AND INTERPRETATION Visitors require different depths of information and ways must be considered to provide this. CURRENT POSITION
• Audio tour. • Guided tour on request or summer Saturdays. • Guide Book. • Room information. • Detective briefcase for children. • FOHA First Tuesday lectures. • WEA lectures organised by FOHA. • Events. • Exhibitions. • Schools programme. • CSI Science initiative.
8. COLLECTIONS 8.1 VALUE AND PURPOSE OF COLLECTIONS
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…The collections at Gainsborough Old Hall are variable in significance and value to an interpretation of the building… CURRENT POSITION
• Documentation plan adopted. • Documentation Assistant creating records for each item in the
collection, collating information including previous numbering systems. • Inventory of all areas in progress.
8.2 STATUS OF BACON LOAN An up to date schedule of items in the Bacon Loan Collection should be confirmed in a formal agreement. CURRENT POSITION
• Items included in the furniture probate list have been identified and documented.
• A basic condition survey has been carried out. • Work is underway to establish the terms of a loan agreement.
8.3 SOCIAL HISTORY COLLECTION Material collected is of variable quality. It is valuable in interpreting the local context of the Hall. CURRENT POSITION
• Documentation project is ongoing. 8.4 TRANSFORMATION PROJECT Materials and research supported the interpretation of the 15th Century aspects of the house and household. CURRENT POSITION
• The high quality commissioned pieces are becoming valuable in their own right.
• The transformation items were erroneously accessioned and work is taking place to de-accession them.
8.5 CONSERVATION There are difficulties in maintaining collections, whether on display or in store, in adequate environmental conditions …… CURRENT POSITION
• Environmental monitoring in place. • Programme of pest monitoring in place.
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• Isolation area for items identified as having live pest infestations. • Regular visual checks. • Housekeeping strategy/rota. • Painted cloths removed from display, documented, surface cleaned
and stored in conservation grade packaging. • Rolling programme of conservation work financed through Heritage
Services Collections Management budget. • Much of the furniture on display is damaged and it is not possible to
repair it within current budgets. 8.5 RESERVE COLLECTION STORAGE As soon as conditions allow, all reserve collection material not required at GOH should be relocated off-site. CURRENT POSITION
• Some items already transferred to MLL. • Items identified for storage at The Collection. • Firearms have been removed from premises.
9. SITE MANAGEMENT
9.1 DIVISION OF MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY The principle should be confirmed that all activities relating to the site should be clearly co-ordinated and directed by the site manager. CURRENT POSITION
• EH is responsible for upkeep of the building. • LCC is responsible for day-to-day running and maintenance
programme. 9.2 MANAGEMENT ETHOS AND PARTNERSHIPS To ensure that management arrangements aim to safeguard historic integrity and the public interest in access. CURRENT POSITION
• The implementation of the Management Plan. • ‘Working Together’ document between FOHA and LCC is in place.
9.3 PARTNERSHIPS AND THE AVAILABILITY OF ADVICE Potential conflicts will best be resolved through good and regular working relationships between the principal partners for the site….. CURRENT POSITION
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• Working with West Lindsey Tourism. • Local development teams. • English Heritage. • LCC. • FOHA.
9.4 FIRE PROTECTION, PHYSICAL SECURITY AND DISASTER
PLANNING Concerns have been expressed about fire safety at Gainsborough Old Hall principally due to the effectiveness of fire escape provision. CURRENT POSITION
• To observe effective regimes for fire and safety. • Regular fire drills. • Regular testing of fire alarms. • Staff training. • Disaster training scheduled. • Roof space is cleared. • Working relationship established with Fire and Rescue Service. • Fire compartmentation carried out. • Removal of flammable material from roof spaces. • Work is ongoing to clear the cellar.
HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES Despite the inherent difficulties of working within an ancient structure, management of the site to the requisite standards of health and safety is assessed as generally excellent….. ….warning measures can be intrusive, but this must be weighed against safe operating; careful consideration needs to be given to making the building safe in a way which does not impact unacceptably on the character of historic spaces. CURRENT POSITION
• Principal Keeper trained to IOSH standard. • Contractors signing in book and asbestos register at reception desk. • Daily visual checks are carried out. • Keeper, Visitor and Community Services is named fire safety officer. • Keeper, Visitor and Community Services trained in fire marshall duties. • Regular LCC and EH Health and Safety checks as demanded by their
policies. • Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) manual on site. • Regular fire drills – at least quarterly. • Weekly checks on fire alarm system. • Regular contact with Fire Service. • Roof space clear of flammable material. • Four members of staff are trained in First Aid. • Guides with school groups carry a radio at all times.
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9.5 AVAILABLE RESOURCES The key will be the exercise of effective and imaginative management to make use of all resources. CURRENT POSITION
• Financial resources are consumed in the day-to-day operation and maintenance of the building.
• Qualified, professional staff. • A good team of HA’s. • The Management Plan. • The Continuum Report.
STRATEGIC AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 2006 – 2010 The 5 strategic aims set out below are considered of equal importance to each other and are not therefore in a prioritised order. Aim 5 for example, is no less or more important than aims 1 to 4. Aim 1 – Improve all forms of access to the Hall and the collection. Aim 2 – To ensure that the service is customer focussed and encourages learning, enjoyment and inspiration. Aim 3 – To improve the standards of management of the building and its collections. Aim 4 – To constantly aspire to raise performance in local, regional and national standards and performance indicators. Aim 5 – To inspire local people to take an interest and pride in the Old Hall by encouraging community use and involvement. Staffing Key: MC - Mike Cavanagh SS – Sue Scott JN – Janice Nickolls JD – Jon Ducker VM – Victoria Mason JS – Joan Smithson HAs – Heritage Assistants
27
Aim 1 – Improve all forms of access to the Hall and the collection.
Objective How to be achieved
Resources Available
Who When Conservation Plan cross reference
1.1 Improve facilities for Visitors with hearing impairments.
Purchase a portable induction loop.
T setting on hearing aid for audio tour access Possible funding FOHA
SS JD
31.8.06 Policy E1.1
1.2 Develop website content.
Explore potential for Micro-site. Update and use NOF information.
NOF website JN 31.3.07 Ongoing
N/A
1.2.1 To raise the profile of GOH website
Via LCC Connects and microsite
Staff Time JD N/A
1.3 Establish and maintain a complete archive on all repairs on the building, work on the grounds, etc. For future research.
Gather together all information which is currently held off site. In personal memory and in personal possession.
Storage Space Filing cabinet
SS Volunteers
31.3.10 Policy D2.1 to D2.8
1.3.1 Commence a programme of research on the building and its inhabitants
Source and acquire an oral history archive
Staff Time Staff Time FOHA Volunteers
31.3.08 Policy D1.1 to D1.6
1.3.2 To discover and interpret any archaeological features buried underground
Investigate the possibility of an archaeological survey
Specialist staff time.
VM SS
31.3.10 Policy C1.4 Policy D1.1 to D1.6
1.3.3 To gain a better insight into previous features in the ground
Investigate the possibility of a geophysical survey of the grounds
Specialist staff time
VM SS
31.3.10 Policy D1.1 to 1.6
1.4 Upgrade telephone system to one able to cope with increasing levels of enquiries. Also to include an answer machine.
Flag up at Policy & Standards KRA meeting
Resources to be established
SS 31.3.07 N/A
1.5 Upgrade IT provision to include additional connections, to
Flag up at Policy and Standards KRA meeting
Resources to be established
SS MC
31.3.07 N/A
28
enable staff to respond to enquiries and work demands
1.6 Improve access through delivery of elements of the Continuum report detailed below:
1.6.1 Provide a clear, structured route/s around the building.
Add to the Audio Tour. Change the Guide book. Create unified signage throughout the building.
Audio Tour is in place, but needs updating. Continuum report. There is a possibility that the audio tour may be superseded by a hand held PDA system.
SS JD VM
31.3.09 Policy F3.10, F1.1, F1.2
1.6.2 Give ‘virtual’ access to areas of the Hall which are not accessible to the public.
Interactive virtual tour of the building.
Continuum report.
JD JN
31.3.09 Policy E1.7
1.6.3 To ensure that forms of interpretation are available for different levels of understanding.
Consultation with user groups. Use different forms of interpretation.
Continuum report Staff Time Possible funding from HLF
All staff 31.3.09 Policy F1.3
1.6.4 To rationalise and update the lighting system at GOH.
Commission a survey and recommendations from a museum lighting expert.
To be established – possibly part of Continuum report investment
SS JD JN
31.3.09 Policy C2.3
1.6.5 To raise awareness of the car parking near to the Hall
Add car parking details to website
Time Website
JD 30.6.06 N/A
1.6.6 To improve the local parking situation
Work in partnership with WLDC
Time SS 31.3.10 Policy C4.3
29
Aim 2 – To ensure that the service is customer focussed and encourages learning, enjoyment and inspiration.
Objective How to be achieved
Resources Available
Who When Conservation Plan cross reference
2.1 To update the modern kitchen in order to improve the flow of food preparation, storage and clearance.
Re-organise the layout of the kitchen in order to install a dishwashing machine. Improve storage Improve flow of work surfaces and position of oven. Add a baffle devise.
Input from Heritage Assistants. Possible funding from FOHA.
SS JD VM HAs
31.3.07 N/A
2.2 Provide information for all age groups.
Produce a children’s guide book.
Researched material
JD 31.3.07 Policy F1.3
2.3 Improve interpretation through delivery of elements of the Continuum report detailed below:
2.3.1 To interpret the space at the bottom of the west wing stairs in order to ‘set the scene’.
Use the Continuum report and research from the Conservation plan to introduce the visitor to the medieval part of the house
Continuum report Professional Staff HLF
SS JD
31.3.09
F1.1, F1.2
2.3.2 To trial a temporary interpretation panel in the west wing to establish whether this causes a ‘bottle neck’
Source or create panel. Install and observe
Research Staff Time
SS JD
31.3.08 N/A
2.3.3 Update the Mayflower Pilgrim Exhibition and add the John Wesley story to the area where the current exhibition stands.
Use appropriate interactives to engage KS3 and adults in this part of the Hall’s History. Redisplay the panelled room to
Continuum report Professional Staff National Curriculum HLF
SS HAs JN JD
31.3.09 F1.1, F1.2
30
help interpretation of that era.
2.3.4 Plan events to mark 1607 – The anniversary of the Pilgrim Fathers’ first attempt to leave England.
Costumed guided tours Book launch Build links with tour operators 17C life Re-enactors Travels Through Time II
Staff FOHA Sue Allen Parish School
SS, JD 31.3.08 (events to take place in 07)
F1.1, F1.2
2.3.5 Redisplay the Upper Great Chamber to interpret the chronological development of the Hall.
Use the portraits to tell the stories of the people in them. Small exhibition on how the hall was built Information on how the building has been used throughout the years.
Staff Time Space Continuum report.
SS JD JN
31.3.09 F1.1, F1.2 F1.5
2.3.6 On top of tower, interpret view and set the scene of the manor of Gainsborough.
Link this interpretation to the lower great chamber.
To be established – possibly part of Continuum report investment
SS JD
31.3.09 F1.1, F1.2
2.3.7 Seek to reinterpret structural features of the Great Hall.
Consider an interpretation of the louvre, the screens passage and the central fireplace.
Continuum Report
SS JD
31.3.09 Policy E2 E2.6
2.3.8 Re-market Gainsborough Old Hall.
When the ‘Continuum’ interpretation work is complete, investigate the value of changing the sites name
GOH staff LCC Staff EH Focus Group
SS JD JN VM
31.3.10 N/A
Aim 3 – To improve the standards of management of the building and its collections.
Objective How to be achieved
Resources Available
Who When Conservation Plan cross reference
3.1 Establish a division Meet with EH and HBS SS Site Policy B2
31
between regular maintenance and building works and repairs.
property maintenance to ensure clear lines of responsibility.
MC meeting with EH to be arranged in 2006
3.2 Ensure long term and consistent advice is available to ensure continuity of approach to maintenance of the building.
Encourage a relationship between GOH Management and a conservation architect with knowledge of the building. Invite HBS representative at next EH site meeting.
HBS EH
SS MC
Site meeting with EH to be arranged in 2006
Policy B3 Policy B4
3.3 Raise and Maintain the standard of housekeeping programme.
Identify time and resources to allow time for remedial action.
Staff Time JN VM
6.4.06 Policy C2
3.4 Repair damaged floor surfaces to conservation standards. Consider the possibility of minimising wear and tear using suitable floor coverings.
Consult EH and LCC to examine the feasibility of such a move.
Staff time SS 31.3.06 C1.1
3.5 To conserve and improve interpretation of the wall painting in the Lower Inner Chamber
Consultation with conservation bodies, EH, LCC Heritage Services Conservation Unit, GOH Management team
Conservation Plan Staff
JN JD SS VM
31.3.08 C1.2
3.6 Extend the fire and intruder alarm protection to all parts of the building. Install CCTV.
Consultation with contractors has commenced.
Staff Time LCC property services
JD 31.3.07 C3.9
3.7 Formalise the Bacon Loan Agreement. Ideally to return stored items but retain the Bacon Portraits.
Liaise with legal to create loan agreement. Liaise with Sir Nicholas Bacon to effect agreement.
Staff Time JN MC
31.3.08
Policy G1.1
32
3.8 Train staff in
disaster preparedness
Hold a mock disaster on site
Staff Time Site closed for the day
JN 13.12.06 Dates for future exercises to be confirmed. Ongoing and possibly desktop
N/A
3.9 Complete the marking of collection items in line with best practice.
Purchase equipment, allocate suitable space. Recruit volunteers?
Staff Time JN, HA’s volunteers
31.3.10 N/A
3.10 Complete removal of vulnerable collections off-site.
Transport collection items to more suitable stores in the service.
Staff Time JN 31.3.10 Policy C2.4
3.11 Provide suitable storage and conditions on site to protect the building and its collections.
Extend the Hanwell system to cover all areas of the building.
Collections Management Budget
JN 31.3.10 Policy G2
3.12 Conserve and redisplay the painted cloths. (which have been identified as of national importance).
Secure funding Seek professional specialist conservation help. Redisplay together. Identify space for this.
Staff Time Space
JN JD
31.3.10 N/A
3.13 To minimise risk of fire and vermin attack.
Relocate storage of rubbish from under stairs to storage area away from the building. Consultation with Fire & Rescue, EH, NT
Staff JN JD
31.3.07 Policy C1
3.14 Ensure that all guides carry a radio
Issue radios to guides and train them in how to use them.
Radios VM JD
30.6.06 Policy H1
3.15 Ensure that all guides are trained in fire procedures
Arrange a training session for all guides
Staff Time Space
JD VM
30.9.06 Policy H1
33
Aim 4 – To constantly aspire to raise performance in local, regional and national standards and performance indicators.
Objective How to be achieved
Resources Available
Who When Conservation Plan cross reference
4.1 Increase contact with under represented groups through delivery of a pilot community project.
Deliver Blank Canvas Project
Visitor and Community Services Budget Arts Council? Staff Time
JD SS
31.7.06
Policy F6
4.2 Increase contact with under represented groups through development of outreach programmes.
Develop Outreach programmes through delivery of a series of new talks, and increased use of reminiscence boxes.
Visitor and Community Services budget Staff Time
JD SS
31.3.08 Policy F6
4.3 Respond to local initiatives.
Take part in- Lark in the Park. Riverside Festival. Gainsborough Folk Festival. Halloween Event.
Staff Time JD HAs VM
31.7.06 10.6.06 22.10.06 31.11.06
N/A
4.4 Respond to regional and county initiatives.
Participate in Discover Greater Lincoln Weekend and Heritage Open Weekend.
Staff Time FOHA HAs
11.3.06 10.9.06
N/A
4.5 Respond to national initiatives.
Take part in Museums and Galleries Month and other national events as appropriate.
Staff Time Renaissance East Midlands
SS HAs JD VM
31.5.06 and ongoing
N/A
4.6 Continue to offer high quality, popular events.
Plan events to appeal to Target Audiences. Evaluate events. Feed into Service Action Plans.
Staff Time Visitor and Community Services budget
SS JD
Ongoing Policy F6.3
4.7 Aim publicity Family friendly Promotions SS Ongoing N/A
34
specifically at target audiences.
events guide. Database for more specialised events. Local press.
budget Staff Time
JD
4.8 Keep up to date on available funding opportunities and initiatives.
Develop and maintain contact with: EmmS FEmmS GEM EMMLAC Renaissance East Midlands WLDC LCC – Social Inclusion and Access Unit
Staff Time SS JD JN
Ongoing N/A
4.9 Write an Audience Development Plan.
Work with Access and Social Inclusion Unit.
Renaissance East Midlands Funding Staff Time
JD SS Social Inclusion and access unit
31.3.08 N/A
Aim 5 – To inspire local people to take an interest and pride in the Old Hall by encouraging community use and involvement.
Objective How to be achieved
Resources Available
Who When Conservation Plan cross reference
5.1 To increase the amount of community space available at the Old Hall and trial a community project within the new space, (Upper West Wing).
To trial a community project and evaluate the effect on visitor figures to the space. Project title Blank Canvas.
Professional museum staff. Funding from Emms. Space in the current temporary exhibition space.
JD VM
31.7.06 Policy F5, F6 F6.5
5.2 To create a small additional meeting place for groups and staff to use on occasions when the existing meeting space is in use.
To use room three of the temporary exhibition space for storage for Visitor and Community Services material and for small
Space. Possible reuse of furniture within the building for a trial period.
SS JD
31.7.06 Policy F5, F6
35
meeting purposes.
5.3 To explore the feasibility and desirability of holding civil ceremonies in the building.
Consider the possible advantages and disadvantages of such a move. Produce report. Seek member decision from LCC
English Heritage. Castle. FOHA
SS JN VM JD MC
31.3.07 Policy E4.5
5.4 To raise the profile of GOH in the local community.
Ensure that GOH is represented on local groups
Staff time. SS JD JS
Ongoing
Policy E4.5
5.5 To raise the profile of the availability of rooms for hire, and encourage use.
Advertise locally. Staff Time JD 31.3.07 Policy E4
Performance Indicators measured at Gainsborough Old Hall Target Actual
05/06 Target 05/06
Target 06/07
Target 07/08
Target 08/09
EC75 – Visitors and Users
31,027 28,000 30,000 31,000 31,000
EC76 – Number of Visitors
27,888 26,000 28,500 30,000 30,000
EC77 – Number of school pupils visiting sites/participating in facilitated outreach
9,001 8,400 8,700 8,700 8,700
EC78 – Number of People participating in outreach events
40 50 50 100 150
EC92: Percentage of visitors indicating 6+ for the visitor survey question “Did you enjoy your visit?” Actual
2005/6 Target 2005/6
Revised Target 2005/6
2nd Outturn Revised Targets 2005/6
Target 2006/7
Target 2007/8
Target 2008/9
GOH 98.02% 90% 90% 90% 90% 90% 90% Service Average
93.59% 90% 90% 90% 90% 90% 90%
HS1: Percentage of visitors who feel their lifestyle has been “enriched by Heritage Services” Actual
2004/5 Target 2005/6
Target 2006/7
Target 2007/8
Target 2008/9
Service Average
Unknown Unknown 70% 75% 80%
36
HS2: Percentage of workforce indicating “increased knowledge and skills” following training Actual
2004/5 Target 2005/6
Target 2006/7
Target 2007/8
Target 2008/9
Service Average
Unknown Unknown 80% 80% 80%
HS3: Number of records available on service websites Actual
2004/5 Target 2005/6
Target 2006/7
Target 2007/8
Target 2008/9
Number of records
0 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000
HS4: Percentage of Lincolnshire Schools using Heritage Services Actual
2004/5 Target 2005/6
Target 2006/7
Target 2007/8
Target 2008/9
Service Average
Unknown 49% 55% 55% 55%
HS5: Maintain Accreditation for Museum Sites Actual
2004/5 Target 2005/6
Target 2006/7
Target 2007/8
Target 2008/9
Number of Accredited Museums
0 6 6 6 6
HS6 : Achieve shop income targets Actual
2004/05 Target 2005/06
Target 2006/07
Target 2007/08
Target 2008/09
GOH £28,084 £35,500 £38,500 £40,000 £42,000
37
Appendix 1 Financial statement 2004/5
Below is a summary of expenditure and income in the financial year 2004/5. ‘Codes’ details the area of spend, ‘Actual’ is the amount spent on each code and ‘revised’ is the budget allocation for each code. Codes Actual Revised 5110602 Anc. Staff Temp * Ancillary Staff 5110860 Admin & Prof Basic 147,545.72 146,950.00 5110863 Admin & Pro Rec Pay 428.36 370.00 5110864 Admin & Prof O/Time 8,977.64 8,790.00 5110868 Admin & Prof Ers NI 7,908.78 8,160.00 5110869 Admin & Prof Ers Pen 24,746.98 25,030.00 * Admin & Professional 189,607.48 189,300.00 5110944 Casual Basic O/Time 72.95 70.00 5110948 Casual Basic Ers NI 0.80 5110949 Casual Basic Ers Pen 3.96 10.00 * Casual & Relief 77.71 80.00 5116020 Relocation Expenses * Non Payroll Costs 6116200 Training fees & 8.00 * Training Expenses 8.00 6116300 Advertising – Staff 3,852.94 4,180.00 * Advertising 3,852.94 4,180.00 ** Employee Expenses inc. R 193,546.13 193,560.00 6120010 Minor Improvements 1,700.23 1,140.00 6120140 Upkeep of Grounds 3,249.78 3,200.00 * Reo, Alt, Mtce - Bld.Fix 4,950.01 4,340.00 6120200 Electricity 3.21- 6120210 Gas 1,296.49 1,580.00 * Energy Costs 1,293.28 1,580.00 6120600 Rates 584.65 580.00 * Rates 584.65 580.00 6120800 Water Services 57.95 60.00 * Water Services 57.95 60.00 6121200 Window Cleaning 6121220 Other Cleaning 250.00 300.00 6121240 Refuse Collection 288.07 600.00 6121250 Cleaning Materials 301.08 220.00 * Cleaning & Domestic Supp 839.15 1,120.00 6121600 Premises Insurance 1,122.64 1,120.00 * Premises Insurances 1,122.64 1,120.00 ** Premises 8,847.68 8,800.00 6130400 Running Costs 4.54 * Repair & Maintenance 4.54 6131000 Hire of Transport 39.10 50.00 * Contract Hire & Operating Leases 39.10 50.00
38
6131210 Transport – Gen 5.77 * Public Transport 5.77 5131400 Car Allowances 54.36 5131460 Other Travel Expenses 15.00 * Car Allowances 69.36 ** Transport 118.77 50.00 6140000 Equipment & Materials 20,056.69 19,860.00 6140010 Photocopying Machines 561.10 570.00 6140020 First Aid Equipment 3.20 6140030 Maintenance & R 50.00 50.00 6140040 Admin Equipment 19.25- 6140080 Books 11.96 6140130 Stock Materials 15,614.58 17,750.00 * Equipment 36,278.28 38,230.00 6140200 Provisions 3,979.61 4,100.00 * Provisions 3,979.61 4,100.00 6140600 Clothing & Uniform 430.00 430.00 * Clothing, Uniforms & Laundry 430.00 430.00 6140800 Print & Stationary 166.33 120.00 * Printing & General Office 166.33 120.00 6141000 Other Hired Services 5,819.67 1,330.00 * Services – General 5,819.67 1,330.00 6141600 Postages 407.53 350.00 * Postages 407.53 350.00 6141800 Telephones 3,007.81 3,270.00 * Telephone 3,007.81 3,270.00 6143600 Advertising General 5,582.26 6,060.00 6143610 Promotions 5,904.27 6,020.00 * Advertising 11,486.53 12,080.00 6144005 licences – general 523.41 160.00 6949000 Unknown Espo 10.95 * Other Expenses 534.36 160.00 ** Supplies & Services 62,110.12 60,070.00 6179000 Op/Clo Stock Valuation 278.04 * Central Support 278.04 ** Cent.Dept. & Tech Support 278.04 *** Expenditure 264,900.74 262,480.00 4191400 Other Grants 36,194.00- 36,190.00-* Other Grant, Reimbursement 36,194.00- 36,190.00- 4191600 Oth Reimburse & 7,510.16- 10,320.00- 4191690 Miscellaneous Income 3,025.31- 3,030.00-* Other 10,535.47- 13,350.00-** Other Grants & Reimbursements 46,729.47- 49,540.00- 4192010 Sale of Meals 12,224.32- 13,970.00- 4192020 Sale of Goods 29,433.69- 4192050 Sales General 33,000.00-* Sales 41,658.01- 46,970.00- 4192200 Service Charges 17.02- 20.00- 4192220 Facilities Charges 893.13- 1,680.00- 4192230 Admission Charges 42,215.93- 37,300.00- 4192405 Cas.Lettings - General 1,764.25- 2,000.00-* Fees & Charges 44,890.33- 41,000.00-** Customer & Client Receipts 86,548.34- 87,970.00-*** Income 133,277.81- 137,510.00-**** Prime Entries 131,622.93 124,970.00 9120410 Premise Recharge 174.00- 9121012 Fire Ext Maintenance 124.96
39
9140000 Equip/Material 25.09 9140400 Catering 800.00- 9192010 Transfer Stock 72.50 **** Recharges 751.45- ***** Account group 130,871.48 124,970.00
Appendix 2 Ground Plans
40
Appendix 3 The Continuum Report Gainsborough Old Hall Description Gainsborough Old Hall is a magnificent survival of a late medieval manor house which is
of regional and national significance for both its architecture and archaeology. It is a
Grade 1 listed building managed jointly by Lincolnshire County Council and English
Heritage. It has a great many architectural features such as the tower, and rooms
including the Great Hall, Solar, Upper Great Chamber, various other bedchambers and
receiving rooms, also some interesting ancillary rooms including a buttery, pantry,
servery, and of particular note, one of the best preserved medieval kitchens in the
country.
The current visitor route starts at the admissions point where the gift shop is located and
takes people on a tour through the Great Hall, then into the Buttery, Pantry and Kitchen
before proceeding upstairs to the upper chambers and the Tower, after which the visitor
returns once again to the ground floor to view the Panelled Room and Trywhitt Room to
complete the circuit.
Displays largely consist of room sets, furnished with some period furniture supplemented
with replicated items, also drapes, tapestries, pottery, tableware, food props and so on.
The Kitchen area is particularly successful in this respect, creating a very believable
impression of a working Tudor kitchen. Aside from recreated environments there are
graphic panels placed periodically from room to room and laminated sheets containing
background information on the house, its history, the people associated with it, the
significance of individual rooms and items within the rooms. There is also a semi-
permanent exhibition on the historical connection with the Mayflower pilgrims who
worshipped within the Hall and who later left England for America in the 17th century in
search of religious freedom.
Other guidance is supplied by a guidebook which provides background to the Hall; chiefly
a pictorial souvenir for visitors with a combined architectural/ historical account, and an
audio tour which concentrates on life in the medieval period.
There are some gardens in the form of raised beds and open grassy areas surrounding
the Hall which are also used by visitors and visiting school groups.
41
In addition there is a lively programme of educational activities, events and exhibitions
which runs alongside all of the above.
Site Assessment
Branding, Messages and Themes Gainsborough Old Hall is an architectural gem, the cluster of ranges which comprise the
Hall are splendid, both inside and out. This is a wonderful attraction and everyone who
visits the Hall cannot fail to be impressed by its period atmosphere.
There are problems however, and these nearly all relate to the coherence of the site.
What is Gainsborough Old Hall trying to be - is it a museum, historic house, visitor
attraction, events venue, council facility, village hall, community centre or educational
resource? The answer of course is that it has had to be all of these, as the Hall needs to
maximise benefits (revenue) by remaining as flexible a resource as possible. This is both
laudable and practical as a means of survival but unfortunately it is the visitor experience
itself that has become secondary, suffering as a result. It is clear that, given the
complexity of the building and its internal spaces, it is difficult to arrive at a visitor route
that will present a clearly defined chronology without some guidance but this is not in
place; the guidebook does not supply a structured route or plan, nor does the leaflet, the
audio tour concentrates on the medieval period, and there is little directional signage. The
visitor is simply left to wander around the wings of the building ‘grazing’ on the occasional
morsel of dryly-written text, unsure where they are, what they are looking at and what the
real significance of any of it might be.
This is not to say that the visitor experience is such a negative one as the interiors and
room settings are attractively laid out with a lot to see and staff when encountered are
extremely helpful, it is rather that the lack of coherence extends to the interpretation itself,
submerging all the great stories about the house and its former inhabitants.
Use of Space In plan, the Hall ranges form an open ’C’ with the kitchen block adjoining. The largest
space is the Great Hall forming the central range which is open to the full height of the
building. There are a number of disadvantages to this arrangement, one being that it is
difficult to create a route that does not necessitate the visitor doubling-back at some point
e.g. the tower, and another is that the visitor gets a preview of the Great Hall en route to
the Buttery and Kitchen block before returning to it, a situation which undermines the
visual impact of this key space.
A key asset of the Hall is that the internal rooms and spaces within the Hall represent
several distinct historic periods from the 1400s through to the Victorian period which is
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quite remarkable, and in the main a chronological sequence can be achieved although
with some guidance.
One of the serious constraints of the building is access. Full access is currently limited to
the ground floor. The imposition of a lift, entailing the construction of an internal shaft and
installation of lift gear, poses a great challenge to a Grade 1 listed structure and it would
not be achievable without some damage to the building. The installation of a lift in either
wing would only provide access to half the building in any case, as it is separated by the
full-height central range (Great Hall), full access to the first floor would require two lifts
and this would seem wholly unnecessary. The current situation is that the first floor can
not be fully utilised in the long term without lift provision, therefore the display areas in the
(west?) wing which lend themselves perfectly for either exhibitions and/or an educational
suite cannot be used.
Recommendations We believe that Gainsborough Old Hall has the potential to become a far more
successful visitor focus and destination than it is today. It needs to be recognised that the
Hall is a major interpretive resource and currently under-used, and the success of the
attraction is dependant on unlocking this potential.
The core experience of the visit is the building itself and the atmosphere it evokes, but
this needs to be supported by an upgraded level of interpretation that literally ‘takes the
visitor by the hand’ and points out the significance of each room, describes its non-
conformist associations and what that means, and most importantly, tells the stories of
the people who lived here; either as owners of the Hall, in service, or notable visitors
such as Wesley. This guidance must direct attention to the exciting hidden details of the
house that the visitor might otherwise miss e.g. the graffiti on the wall of the Trywhitt
Room thought to have been carved in 1541 by Phillip Trywhitt, one of Henry VIII’s
courtiers, and immediately allows the visitors’ imagination to take flight.
A balance will need to be struck between the operation of the Hall as a visitor attraction
and the provision of other services, catering for educational groups etc, so that they can
happily co-exist. We believe that this could be achieved in a number of ways and would
like to put forward the following suggestions:
• Self-guided trail/s;
• Upgrading of in-situ interpretation within the rooms and spaces;
• Triggered experiences, such as ‘soundscapes’ to enliven spaces with the sounds and voices of the people who once lived here;
• The possibility of changing the visitor route, or providing more than one route through the building;
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• Providing ‘virtual’ access to those parts of the building which are physically inaccessible;
• Illustrating the evolution of the building and its former rural surroundings, enabling visitors to understand how Gainsborough Old Hall originally appeared.
1. Self-guided tours
The introduction of an upgraded self-guided trail or series of trails for the visitor would
allow the visitor to have greater control over their experience. Not only an informative
leaflet with a plan and route, but an audio tour capable of telling more than one
narrative and with a wealth of supporting data for those who need it. Another
possibility is a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) tour which can present still images,
film and 3D computer-modelled reconstructions as well as a narrative which can be
spoken or appear as captions.
We believe that it is essential to find a groundbreaking mode of guidance which
allows visitors both to visualise how the Hall looked at specific periods in the past,
and interact with the people who once inhabited it.
The PDA has an in-built touchscreen so that the visitor can look
at the building or an internal feature and see what it looked like
during different periods as well as hear an audio account
describing it. Equally, it can summon people from the past and
quiz them about their lives, and hear their views on G
Old Hall in their own period.
ainsborough
Additionally, a database of key individual objects, furniture and
paintings for each room could be accessed on the system so that
the visitor can learn more about them in context. It can incorporate a captioning
system to allow hearing-impaired visitors to access data in a way that is not possible
with an audio handset. All of this data, particularly text-based information and
captioning, can be updated through a desktop PC connection by staff in situ without
the need to send anything away or requiring expensive outside help.
2. In-situ Interpretation
We believe that if the self-guided tours are set up correctly and provide sufficient
relevant information then the need to clutter period spaces with modern, intrusive
graphics and displays can be kept to a minimum. With the best will in the world
however it is seldom possible to avoid some level of in-situ interpretation, but we
would like to propose that this interpretation is partly concealed – graphic panels and
captions hidden within items of furniture; inside cupboard drawers, dressers and
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chests. In this fashion the interpretation need not get in the way of living history
workshops or re-enactments.
The use of portable media such as a leaflet or audio tour will require some in-situ
means of identifying rooms or objects; such as a number or label. The advantage of a
guidance system like the PDA, is that items can be identified from their appearance
on the screen without the need for unnecessary clutter.
3. Triggered ‘Soundscapes’
Simple soundscapes can be an effective means of suggesting the presence of people
in otherwise empty spaces – the sounds of a banquet in progress, musicians in the
minstrel’s gallery, a sermon in progress etc can all be an effective means of
conveying the function of a room in a given historical period.
These can either be selected by the visitor and activated, or triggered by
PIR/movement sensor. The effects can be subtle and almost ghost-like by gently
fading the sound sequence up when activated and fading down after a given duration
so that the sequence is almost subliminal and does not dominate. Alternatively,
portraits could be made to appear to ‘talk’ to one another and in so-doing explain
significant historical events and their involvement in the Hall.
4. The Visitor Route
Given that the existing system of ramps which link the Reception wing with the Hall
and Kitchen comprise a modern intervention, we would wish to explore the possibility
of creating a slightly different route, one that introduces the visitor to the service
areas first before encountering the splendour of the Great Hall.
However, resolving some of the circulation issues will require architectural input as
there are access issues and changes of level to consider, as well as the constraints
imposed by the status of the building which will need to be addressed and is beyond
the remit of this short study.
5. ‘Virtual’ Access
A useful tool in the interpretation of the Hall would be a 3D computer-modelled
reconstruction of the building which could illustrate its evolution, from its 15th century
beginnings in a rural setting through to the modern day within its more urban context.
This model could feature on graphics, in leaflets, guidebook, portable media such as
the PDA, supporting literature, worksheets and as part of an on-line resource made
available on the website.
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It has the advantage also of allowing everyone full access to view areas that may be
physically inaccessible e.g. allowing visitors to see the view from the top of the tower,
explain what they are looking at and how it might have appeared in an earlier period.
Gainsborough Old Hall
Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats The Building No clearly defined
route, poor orientation
Understand existing audiences and attract new audiences
Preservation versus Presentation
Historic spaces and interiors
Incoherent interpretation
Revamp of guide book, map guide
Declining audiences and visitor numbers
Fits nicely into Educational Key Stages
Multi-usage adversely affects visitor experience
Development of other portable guide media
Increasing costs of conservation
Broad range of interpretative themes
Little storage space Mayflower Pilgrims connection
Loss of staff
Very strong links with local schools
Incoherent identity (what is it?)
Scope to expand interpretative themes further
LCC financial constraints
Detective Briefcases for children
Minimal collection (no formal arrangement with owners)
Scope to expand the use of interpretive media
Limited physical access
Archive of historical documentation available
Poor lighting The Friends Society in an increasingly collaborative role
Well-developed educational resources
Access for the public during educational visits
Lots of ideas from staff on interpretation
Full access restricted to ground floor only
Development of the website as an online educational resource
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