krela
Well-known member
Some of you may remember the last time I posted a report was a couple of years ago, entitled "things to do with a derelict swimming pool", where I and a few other like minded people decided to take over a derelict edwardian swimming pool and turn it into a gallery and event space so that it didn't get trashed while waiting for redevelopment.
Well, now we're back, this time with a derelict Victorian gothic chapel.
In May 2014, after 4 years of protracted and frustrating negotiations with Bristol City Council we were finally given a lease on the Cemetery chapels within a local cemetery, which the council had been using for groundkeepers storage for the past 30+ years. We've got an initial one year lease, with a view to a 3 or 5 year lease in the future. Our aim is to halt the damage that 30+ years of neglect has taken, and turn it into an art and community space. There is no water, electricity or gas on site, so everything we do will have to be innovative and sustainable. We're looking to keep it off grid, which means solar power, harvesting rainwater etc. It's going to be a challenge for sure!
If we get the 5 year lease, we will be looking at undertaking full heritage restoration, which will be a major multi-million pound project.
We have a website with more info, and we're on a fundraising drive at the moment to get us started. We're not a company, we're not a community group, we're just a co-operative bunch of like minded folk who believe that buildings like this shouldn't be allowed to lay empty to decay beyond repair, and we're doing something about it. We're starting with nothing but our own skills and hard work, and a firm belief that we can do it, we have a track record. That said, it's still quite surreal and overwhelming (in a good way) being a custodian to such an amazing building.
http://www.greenbankchapel.com
And we're greenbankchapel on both Facebook and Twitter.
So, on with a little about the location:
Built in the early 1870s, Greenbank Mortuary Chapels are a GradeII listed pair of cemetery chapels, one Christian, the other Non-conformist. They were designed by local architect Henry Masters, and built in the Victorian Gothic style.
My photography isn't what it was, I'm seriously out of practice, but here's a few anyway:
IMG_6398 by krela, on Flickr
IMG_6411 by krela, on Flickr
IMG_6421 by krela, on Flickr
IMG_6428 by krela, on Flickr
IMG_6444 by krela, on Flickr
IMG_6463 by krela, on Flickr
IMG_6505 by krela, on Flickr
IMG_6506 by krela, on Flickr
IMG_6513 by krela, on Flickr
IMG_6518 by krela, on Flickr
IMG_6522 by krela, on Flickr
IMG_6523 by krela, on Flickr
IMG_6526 by krela, on Flickr
Untitled_HDR2 by krela, on Flickr
Untitled_HDR22 by krela, on Flickr
Untitled_HDR23 by krela, on Flickr
Untitled_HDR24 by krela, on Flickr
Untitled_HDR26 by krela, on Flickr
Untitled_HDR25 by krela, on Flickr
This location is not explorable, it's very well secured and now in use. But if anyone would like to know more then there is opportunity for things to be arrange. Also we're having an open weekend on the 13th/14th Sept. if anyone happens to be around.
Cheers!
Well, now we're back, this time with a derelict Victorian gothic chapel.
In May 2014, after 4 years of protracted and frustrating negotiations with Bristol City Council we were finally given a lease on the Cemetery chapels within a local cemetery, which the council had been using for groundkeepers storage for the past 30+ years. We've got an initial one year lease, with a view to a 3 or 5 year lease in the future. Our aim is to halt the damage that 30+ years of neglect has taken, and turn it into an art and community space. There is no water, electricity or gas on site, so everything we do will have to be innovative and sustainable. We're looking to keep it off grid, which means solar power, harvesting rainwater etc. It's going to be a challenge for sure!
If we get the 5 year lease, we will be looking at undertaking full heritage restoration, which will be a major multi-million pound project.
We have a website with more info, and we're on a fundraising drive at the moment to get us started. We're not a company, we're not a community group, we're just a co-operative bunch of like minded folk who believe that buildings like this shouldn't be allowed to lay empty to decay beyond repair, and we're doing something about it. We're starting with nothing but our own skills and hard work, and a firm belief that we can do it, we have a track record. That said, it's still quite surreal and overwhelming (in a good way) being a custodian to such an amazing building.
http://www.greenbankchapel.com
And we're greenbankchapel on both Facebook and Twitter.
So, on with a little about the location:
Built in the early 1870s, Greenbank Mortuary Chapels are a GradeII listed pair of cemetery chapels, one Christian, the other Non-conformist. They were designed by local architect Henry Masters, and built in the Victorian Gothic style.
My photography isn't what it was, I'm seriously out of practice, but here's a few anyway:
IMG_6398 by krela, on FlickrIMG_6411 by krela, on FlickrIMG_6421 by krela, on FlickrIMG_6428 by krela, on FlickrIMG_6444 by krela, on FlickrIMG_6463 by krela, on FlickrIMG_6505 by krela, on FlickrIMG_6506 by krela, on FlickrIMG_6513 by krela, on FlickrIMG_6518 by krela, on FlickrIMG_6522 by krela, on FlickrIMG_6523 by krela, on FlickrIMG_6526 by krela, on FlickrUntitled_HDR2 by krela, on FlickrUntitled_HDR22 by krela, on FlickrUntitled_HDR23 by krela, on FlickrUntitled_HDR24 by krela, on FlickrUntitled_HDR26 by krela, on FlickrUntitled_HDR25 by krela, on FlickrThis location is not explorable, it's very well secured and now in use. But if anyone would like to know more then there is opportunity for things to be arrange. Also we're having an open weekend on the 13th/14th Sept. if anyone happens to be around.
Cheers!
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