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You are here: Home / Holly House / Removal Of The Pews

November 5, 2019 ·

Removal Of The Pews

Removal Of The Pews

The time to remove the pews finally arrived in Holly House and it marked a very significant moment in the process of making space to enable us to build our living pod within the main body of the church. But it was a very lengthily process. After obtaining historical surveys for the church and its contents, it was deemed that the pews were a relatively modern-day addition to the church and of a mass-produced standard. A far cry in comparison to some of the medieval factors within the building. 
Removal Of The PewsThe first stage of the process was to ask the church if they would like to claim back the pews from us. This was done as a part of our sale paperwork to save us some time as liaising with the church body proved to be a very time-consuming relationship at all stages. As a part of the sale agreement, it was stipulated that should we want to get rid of any fixtures or fittings within the church we were to give them ‘first dibs’ on any unwanted items. The church did not want the pews so we were free to do with them as we wished.

The second stage was to submit a planning application to the council asking for permission to remove the pews along with an explanation of our intentions of use. This was eventually granted and photos of the pews in situ were submitted for historical records. Predominantly, our hope is to repurpose as many of the pews as possible. We’d like to make a front door, tabletops, seating areas, seating for the churchyard, a friendship bench for the children’s school, etc.

Having accounted for around 80% of the pews to be repurposed it left us with some to sell on. It was very important to us that the remaining pews would go to homes of people who had a sentimental tie to the church through marriage, christenings, worship, etc. This was pleasingly achieved through an advertisement of sale within the area local to the church.

Removal Of The Pews

We were a little naive to think that removing the pews would be easy because it most certainly wasn’t. Those things were made to last. The method used to put them in place was one where the wood was cut to fit into slots and then the wood naturally expanded to fix it solidly in place. We tried using a saw to cut the wood that slotted into the base but this proved extremely difficult and actually broke a few of our saws in the process. The pews were sat on a wooden base which covered the expanse of the floor and below the base was a void in the floor around 3 or 4 foot deep. This would have acted as an aeration system for the pews. The smell of sap as we cut the wood was immense.

Removal Of The Pews

Each pew was then reinforced with nails without heads which were impossible to remove. After some trial and error, it was established that pure brute force was the way forward in removing them.

Removal Of The Pews

We were able to remove the centre aisle pews without any damage and the units remained whole. The pews that sat on the outskirts of the church were not whole and only had one end as the other end was attached to a wall base plate/panelling. We hoped to use a pew end from either side of two pews to put together to form one but unfortunately, this could not be achieved as they were different sizes. As the pews were removed from the outskirts they fell apart but they were kept to be repurposed so it’s all was good.

Removal Of The Pews

Our intention is to keep the wooden flooring which the pews sat on and preserve it to act as indoor decking which will protrude from beneath the living pod.

Removal Of The Pews

Below is a photo of underneath the flooring which the pews sat on and the void beneath it.

Removal Of The Pews

We did find some small treasures underneath the pews…

Removal Of The Pews

An old 5p and a new 5p.

Removal Of The Pews

As usual, it was all hands on deck in helping out.

Removal Of The Pews

The space really started to open up as the pews were removed and the removal of the dark pews seemed to really allow light to flood back into the building.

Removal Of The Pews

Removal Of The Pews

The panelling along the wall will also be removed and repurposed, and the bare stone walls behind it will be lime plastered and painted up to match the existing walls.

Removal Of The Pews

It was a process of real mixed emotions. Whereas it felt quite sad to be removing the pews it also felt like the building was transforming and blooming. We repurposed our first piece of a pew, along with the rope from one of the bells, and made a swing with the children.

Removal Of The Pews

Hopefully, as time goes by the repurposed pews will help breath new life back into Holly House.

Here is a peek at our first celebration within our pew free space as we had a special Holly House picnic.

Removal Of The Pews

You can also follow us here on Instagram where we share an everyday account of our journey, with Stories and findings as we unearth the history of Holly House.

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Filed Under: Holly House Tagged With: Holly House, Renovation

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Family Days Tried and Tested provides inspiration to make everyday family life fun. It includes simple craft activities to do at home plus lots of reasons to play outside. Family Days Tried and Tested is all about frugal fun, honesty and lots of laughs.

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Family Days Tried and Tested
🐍 So pleased to see the churchyard slow worms c 🐍 So pleased to see the churchyard slow worms coming out of hibernation over the past week. 
I found a few whilst re starting the mammoth task of working the churchyard over the summer months this week - the two large ones in the photos, we picked them up and moved them along whilst caring for the grass around the bottom of gravestones - it’s their favourite spots to hang out. 

You may also remember back in October when I stumbled over a mound which I was clearing of broken glass jars, slates etc - kind of a dump area which I initially assumed was a plot under the undergrowth. It turned out to be a rich home for slow worms and I found at least five baby slow worms cwtched up in the buried jars and under the slates (around two inches long), once I’d established it was such a rich habitat I stopped my clearance efforts, added some additional slates and left the area (apart from clearing the broken glass)..I’m sure it was a hibernation hive. 

Today I returned to that spot and lifted one of the five additional slates I’d placed and found around 10/15 slow worms snuggled up together, at least three big ones (7/8inches) and lots of smaller (3/4inches), it was a lovely suprise, I only lifted one slate as if there was anymore under the other slates I didn’t want to disturb them. 

I’d mowed around the area in the week as a fist cut of the churchyard, you can see in the photo how long the grass has become. 
I called the children over to take a look at the nest and we covered it back up before circling the site with rocks to prevent others from disturbing them, I’ve made a simple sign out of a wood slice (which was supposed to be for my pots and pans in the kitchen to stand on😂) and hopefully they’ll continue to thrive.

Slow worms are native to the U.K. and can live for around 20 - 30 years. (They’ve been known to live for 54 years in captivity!) They are often mistaken for snakes but are actually legless lizards. 🐍
The are a ‘priority’ and ‘protected’ species in the U.K. 

It fills us with joy that they continue to be so apparent and comfy in the churchyard. #slowworm #churchyard #protectedspecies
☀️ The glow of the morning rising sun looking ☀️ The glow of the morning rising sun looking gorgeous behind the altar window today.
🦋💐🧺🚗 Yesterday I got a reduced butterf 🦋💐🧺🚗
Yesterday I got a reduced butterfly birthday cake at the supermarket so I took it as an opportunity to have a car boot picnic with Boo.
It wasn’t anyone’s birthday and there is never an excuse needed to eat cake. 
We put the back seats down in the back of the car  and transformed it into a garden with fake flowers, a green sheet and butterflies we’d painted. I made a butterfly to decorate a bottle of squash and drew butterflies on some paper cups. 
We then drove to the ocean and spent an hour together eating cakes, drawing in the sand and jumping in the breaking waves on the shore. 
Simple fun that started with a reduced cake👌 and a lovely time had by the both of us 🥰 ...time and £1:80 well spent.
Friday night chilling on the sofa 🥰 It’s bee Friday night chilling on the sofa 🥰

It’s been a really fab week away from the church but it’s wonderful to be back. I think we needed the past week to regroup and prepare for whats coming.

Commence the pod...
💪 we’ve got this...

& if we haven’t then the beach is down the road.
Load More… Follow on Instagram

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