A $1 million restoration project on the Harlaxton College Gatehouse, started in 2007, is expected to be completed in the upcoming months.
The Gatehouse, which was built in the 1840s and once housed servants and workers for the manor’s previous owners, is being restored to once again allow people to live there, in the form of two apartment-like flats.
Both apartments are expected to be completed by July 1, but the restoration process is taking longer than hoped, with many factors holding the project up.
Suzanne Kingsley, Harlaxton’s director of planning and design, said finding unexpected interior damage is the main cause of the delay.
“Because the Gatehouse is so old, a lot of rust has cracked and chipped some stone and wrecked support beams that we didn’t see until we really got deeper into the project,” Kingsley said. “It’s kind of depressing to find how many things need to be repaired … We just need to keep working through the surprises.”
Chris Meadows, head of maintenance, said another difficulty is finding and receiving the right kind of specialized stone needed.
“There is only one quarry in the area that has the kind of stone we need, and sometimes we only get one slab a day from them,” Meadows said. “If we don’t use the right stone, it won’t get approved.”
The decision will be made by English Heritage, an organization that monitors the repairs and restoration of old architectural works throughout the country. Even though English Heritage may cause some slight delays, this whole project would not be possible if it was not for the organization.
After accepting Harlaxton's application for a grant, English Heritage covered 40 percent of the project's $1million cost. The rest of the costs have been provided by a loan from the University of Evansville and donations. <br/>&#160;&#160;&#160; <br/>One way the school is trying to cut the cost of repairs is by having the members of the maintenance crew do some of the restoration work. One way the school is trying to cut the cost of repairs is by having the members of the maintenance crew do some of the restoration work. <br/>&#160;&#160;&#160; <br/>"It's a great chance for them to utilize the many skills that they have," Kingsley said. "Carpentry and masonry work allows them to show off their talents and is a change of pace from fixing heaters." "It's a great chance for them to utilize the many skills that they have," Kingsley said. "Carpentry and masonry work allows them to show off their talents and is a change of pace from fixing heaters." <br/>&#160;&#160;&#160; <br/>To offset the cost of the repairs, the two apartment buildings will be rented out. Even though the project is not completed yet, one apartment already has already been claimed.&#160; To offset the cost of the repairs, the two apartment buildings will be rented out. Even though the project is not completed yet, one apartment already has already been claimed.
One way the school is trying to cut the cost of repairs is by having the members of the maintenance crew do some of the restoration work.
“It’s a great chance for them to utilize the many skills that they have,” Kingsley said. “Carpentry and masonry work allows them to show off their talents and is a change of pace from fixing heaters.”
To offset the cost of the repairs, the two apartment buildings will be rented out. Even though the project is not completed yet, one apartment already has already been claimed.
Gordon Kingsley, principal of Harlaxton College, said Western Kentucky University will lease one apartment for next year, while the other side is still open. <br/>&#160;&#160;&#160; <br/>"What we are looking for is someone to rent it long term," Kingsley said. "Another faculty member for a semester, or an American professor who is over here on sabbatical leave, would be the best case."&#160;&#160;&#160; "What we are looking for is someone to rent it long term," Kingsley said. "Another faculty member for a semester, or an American professor who is over here on sabbatical leave, would be the best case." <br/>&#160;&#160;&#160; <br/>Suzanne Kingsley said they hope to draw professors not employed by the school to rent by offering the same benefits that Harlaxton offers its faculty and students. Suzanne Kingsley said they hope to draw professors not employed by the school to rent by offering the same benefits that Harlaxton offers its faculty and students. <br/>&#160;&#160;&#160; <br/>"It would be a great place for someone to come on sabbatical," Suzanne Kingsley said. "They get their own place to live, somewhat separated, but they can still get all the resources we have here at the college.""It would be a great place for someone to come on sabbatical," Suzanne Kingsley said. "They get their own place to live, somewhat separated, but they can still get all the resources we have here at the college."<br/>&#160;
“What we are looking for is someone to rent it long term,” Kingsley said. “Another faculty member for a semester, or an American professor who is over here on sabbatical leave, would be the best case.”
Suzanne Kingsley said they hope to draw professors not employed by the school to rent by offering the same benefits that Harlaxton offers its faculty and students.
“It would be a great place for someone to come on sabbatical,” Suzanne Kingsley said. “They get their own place to live, somewhat separated, but they can still get all the resources we have here at the college.”