A year at Jacobs Wells

Trinity patron, Miriam Margolyes, visits Jacobs Wells. Photo Alistair Brookes, KoLAB Studios

The last year at Jacobs Wells we have been focussing on leading further investigations of previously out of reach areas to determine the condition of the building, leading to some fascinating and unexpected discoveries.

By uncovering elements of the building, including removing stonework and cutting back the vegetation that has been creeping into the building, we can determine what is salvageable and which areas might need to be entirely rebuilt.

The Pump Room

Further works have now been paused in the Pump Room, following the discovery of a small bat roost of the lesser horseshoe bat - Rhinolophus Hipposideros. These species are listed in Annex II of the EU Habitats directive and so are protected by European legislation which means no further works can take place as long as they are there. Once we have undertaken the safe relocation of any bat roost with advice from Natural England, we can continue with planned asbestos decontamination that will enable the professional team to gain greater access to some of the more mysterious and unusual elements of the site.

The Pump Room is a unique area of heritage significance, featuring intact Victorian engineering, including large iron-cast water tanks that once held 60,000 gallons of water, fed by an ancient natural spring redirected from several local sources, including Jacob’s Well. By collaborating with industrial heritage engineering specialists, we will gain better understanding of this remarkable setup and develop a clear plan for the best use of this natural resource.

Our vision is to transform this space into rehearsal studios, informal performance areas and a café/bar, making this hidden gem accessible to the public for the first time.

Victorian Tiles

We are making strides with other repair works including the deconstruction of a parapet wall on the southern aspect of the building, roof repair works on areas not used by bats on the northern and eastern aspects and other small-scale works.

During recent cleaning trials, including external graffiti removal, specialists have uncovered yet more Victorian glazed tiles in the entrance corridor of the building, which have been painted over and hidden for decades.

This discovery accompanies the tiled finishes already uncovered within the Main Hall and underscores the importance of our investigation works, so that we can fully understand what lies beneath more modern finishes in order to ensure the building’s historical richness is sensitively restored and conserved for future generations.

Fundraising & support

We are grateful for the continued support from our funders and community, including the recent awards:

• Centrica: Energy for Tomorrow - £84,600 to advance our renewable energy scheme

• Historic England - £89,000 for expanded South Studio roof and masonry works

• Support from individual donors on our Fundsufer