Marsh House Preservation Fund
Marsh House is a historic and valuable community asset. This fund is to contribute towards the renovation and preservation of Marsh House, so that it can continue to serve the comunity for generations to come.
The Past
Marsh House was built sometime in the 18th century. It served as the farmhouse when Marsh Farm was actually a farm. It is sited next to the scheduled ancient monument "Waulud's Bank", a neolithic henge site which has evidence of human occupation for at least 5000 years.
When the Marsh Farm estate was developed, Marsh House became council owned, and became a community centre for the area's young people, and the site of the now legendary adventure playground.
It continued use for community activity until the mid-2000's, when it fell into disrepair thanks to a leaking roof and dry rot throughout.
In the late 2000's, Marsh Farm Outreach and dozens of volunteers, with the aid of the council, set about repairing the damage and bringing the building back into functional use before it was a write-off.
With costs for materials provided by the council of around £12,000, the contribution of volunteer labour was valued at £106,000 by an independent chartered Quantity Surveyor.
Since then Marsh Farm Outreach and volunteers have contributed further works and improvements, valued in the 10's of thousands, to bring Marsh House into further functional use.
The Present
Marsh Farm Outreach now have a 25 year lease on the building with the council. Our aim is to bring the building up to a sustainable standard so that it earns the money needed to maintain it from the activities it hosts.
Marsh House now hosts the Marsh House DJ Academy, a provider of alternative curriculum education for young people, who have also invested their time and money into bringing the music studio annexe back into use.
The studio ajoins a new decked and covered garden area, connecting to a cafe/bar. 
The first floor is now fully renovated and contains office space.
The Future
Income to maintain the building in the future will be earned by renting office space and facilities to similarly community-related organisations who provide benefit in the local area and for small social enterprises generated by local people.
This newly renovated area will very soon play host to the "Sauce of the Lea" Cafe during the daytime, which will be run as a not-for-private-profit co-operative social enterprise by local people.
In the evenings the space will be given over to community groups for 3 days a week.
On Thursday-Saturday it will become "Fidel Gastro's", hosting musical entertainment, poetry, and discussions in a friendly atmosphere with good food and a licensed bar.
Marsh Farm Outreach are also now a "Social Action Hub" as part of the national Community Organisers Ltd programme to train and support Community Organisers over the next 2 years. We will soon be offering short courses and accredited qualifications in community organising.
Where the funds will go
We still have a long list of jobs to do to complete the renovation works.
If you want to help but can't donate cash, any offers of energy, materials or skills to contribute to the works will be gratefully received.
(1) Overhaul rain water fittings on north elevation and replace all missing downpipe sections noted.
(2) Arrange for an approved BWPDA Damp and Timber contractor to carry out an independent inspection of all timbers, principally within the floors, roof and walls of the building. An insurance backed guarantee must be provided upon completion of works.
(3) Contact a specialist company who deals with mould and other forms of toxic fungus to advise further on the fungal decay noted on the wall and ceiling.
(4) Carry out repairs to roof by way of replacing missing sections of roof covering, overhaul flashings, ridge and valley.
(5) Carry out localised repairs to external walls by way of repointing missing/weathered mortar joints and replacing all damaged and spalled bricks.
(6) Fill all open cracks on external walls as necessary to prevent water penetration.
(7) Replace sanitary ware in toilet on the ground and first floor levels. Overhaul all drainage pipe work as necessary.
(8) Cut out section of rotten timber window in the toilet on the first level.
(9) Instruct a Damp Proofing Contractor to carry out an independent inspection to examine the principal walls at ground floor level around the property in particular and to carry out recommendations including replastering as appropriate to eradicate the effects of rising and other dampness and to provide an insurance backed guarantee.
(10) Repoint chimney stack and repair/replace all displaced and damaged brickwork as necessary.
