• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Family Days Tried And Tested

Adventuring through childhood... with love and dysfunction in tow

  • CategoriesLots to see!
  • About UsWho are we?
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
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.

Facebook Comments

Related posts:

Clean Up Begins At Holly House The Windows Of Holly House The Window View Fine Dining Afternoon Tea Experience Exploring The Crypt At Holly House

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

Family Days Tried and Tested provides inspiration and ideas for you to make lasting memories and achieve great family days of your own.

Our aim is to offer our own experiences of family outings and activities whatever the weather and with a young family. Read More…

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Hello!

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.

Contact Us

TOTS100 - UK Parent Blogs
TOTS100
I'm a Netmums Influencer

familydaystriedandtested

Living life however it comes👌
Renovating & restoring 💒
Featured in The Times 📰
Family fun Multi award winners🏆
Adventurers🗺🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Family Days Tried and Tested
☺️ Really pleased at how the kitchen ceiling i ☺️ Really pleased at how the kitchen ceiling is looking! It’s been a long process insulating between the beams and putting up lining papering and cleaning down and waxing the beams but our hard work is starting to pay off and it’s looking beautiful. So many people advised us to cover the beams up as an easy measure but for us that was never going to happen, keeping the church as original as possible is our highest priority, it’s a stunning building, why change that? 
Our next job is to give the walls another coat of paint around the memorials we restored and hang the chandeliers central to the arches...then maybe we can think about building the kitchen 🙂

 #Dreamhome #conversion #Historicbuilding #History #Familyhome #buildingthedream #renovationproject #Selfbuild #Homerenovation #churchconversion #granddesigns 
#renovation #beautifulhomes #designerhomes #homedesign #architecture #churchrennovation #architectureporn #church
🦸‍♂️🦸‍♀️😷🍿🎬 We’re thr 🦸‍♂️🦸‍♀️😷🍿🎬 We’re throwing a ‘lockdown heroes’ treat night for the children as a reminder to them of how proud we are of them holding it together during the lock down. 
I made some printouts to set the scene and we’ll have treats and watch a superhero movie. 
This pandemic is so hard on everyone and it’s so easy to overlook how well the children are cracking on throughout, they are so resilient when it comes to change but it’s such an incredibly emotional and unknown time for their little minds. 

So this little treat night is a reminder to them that they too are hero’s in their own right and that we’re proud of the part they play too 💖
🚶‍♀️🚶📮✉️🌈🚪 We took a walk 🚶‍♀️🚶📮✉️🌈🚪 We took a walk around our neighbourhood and used the time to practice our colours by spotting different coloured doors. We took a photo so we could sit down and look at them when we got home too. 
A really simple, fun and educational activity, with the bonus of fresh air too 👌

**All the doors opened onto the main pavement meaning that there were not any front gardens or paths, so we didn’t trespass 😉
🌳📏Finding out how old trees are using string 🌳📏Finding out how old trees are using string! 
We used a piece of string on which we made a mark every 2.5cm along, we then chose our trees and wrapped the string around the girth of the tree around 1.5m up (5ft).
The then we counted the points on the marker and each point (2.5cm) was equal to 1 year. 
This tree is was around 52 years old.
Load More… Follow on Instagram

Family Days Tried and Tested Privacy Policy

  • ImaginationInspiration
    • Simple Play Ideas
    • Magical Adventures
    • Themed Days
    • Frozen
  • Indoor FunIncludes food!
    • Food
    • Themed Bath
  • Outdoor FunBack garden, beaches & more
    • Beach
    • Garden
    • Local Exploring
      • Chepstow
      • Forest of Dean
      • Somerset
  • SeasonalSomething for every time of year
    • Valentines
    • Spring
    • Easter
    • Summer
    • Halloween
    • Autumn
    • Remembrance Sunday
    • Winter
    • Christmas
  • About UsWho are we?
    • Mummy Musings
      • As They Grow
      • Parenting Realities
      • Awareness

Family Days Tried and Tested · Copyright © 2021