Spit, Polish and Spade work!

 

Now that the builders have almost finished their work on the former

Keld Literary Institute, its time for a tidy up.

 

 

A team of volunteers worked hard to clean the Countryside & Heritage Centre

 so that it is ready to be re-opened to the public at the earliest opportunity.

 

 

The outside space has received some long overdue attention and

a large area of original cobbles and a flagged path have been unearthed.

Wow! What an improvement.

 

 

A massive thank you to Rebecca & Derek Bowhay of Tutil House

and Mark & David P of Thorns Cottage

for giving their time and energy this evening.  

 



Children's Art Workshop for Showing You the Way .....

 

Today eight children gathered at Pry House Farm to make a start on creating

the artwork for the new children's guide Showing You the Way -

a circular walk from Keld to Angram.

 

 

 

 

The children spent an industrious couple of hours making observational drawings

of what they had seen on the walk.

 

 

A lot was achieved in our first session - thank you very much.

 

 

 

 



Lit Institute Refurb - The Final Furlong

 

The long awaited, much debated lift has finally been installed

in the newly refurbished Keld Centre.

 

David Foreman of Forefit Structural Glass fits the grid that will hold the glass panel

above the stairwell allowing light to filter through to the kitchenette area.

 The framework has been installed for the new automatic doors

into the Keld Countryside & Heritage Centre.

 

The Visitor Centre has been decorated and very soon will be opening its doors

(quite literally!) to holiday makers and day visitors to Keld. 



Lit Institute Progress Report

 

The finish line is creeping closer and soon the old Keld Literary Institute

building will be completely transformed into a multi functional space

 fit for the 21st century.

 

There's workmen all over the place.

 

 

Joiners, plumbers and heating engineers working hard to get the job done. 

 

 

The whole place is lighter and brighter now that Jeremy Moon,

the decorator has worked his magic.

 

 

And there's even running water!



Keld / Angram Circular - Family Walk

 

This year sees a new addition to our range of children's guided walk leaflets ...

Showing You the Way ................

 

Today three local families walked the 2 mile circular trail taking photographs,

making observations and mapping the route.

 

 

Photographing

 

 

Fossil hunting

 

 

Finding flowers using meadow guides

 

Exploring high and dry

 

 

Probing in puddles & streams

 

 

 

A walk for the whole family.

 

In the summer holidays we will get together to produce the artwork for the new

Showing You the Way ....

Keld - Angram Circular ~  Children's Guided Walk

 



Upper Room Looking Good!

 

The refurbishment of the upper room in the Keld Literary Institute

 is moving forward in leaps and bounds.

 

 

The walls have been plastered and the kitchen / prep area

has gone from this ...............

 

 

...... to this.  Very smart!

 

The lift surveyor makes some final checks

 



 

and the cupboard doors in the large group room are hung.

Its lovely to see the place taking shape. 

 



Waterfalls of the Swale

 

 

Waterfalls of the River Swale.

A guided walk to view nine waterfalls all within one mile radius of each other. 

Led by Griff Fellows, author of Waterfalls of England, the walk was a huge success

with 20 people coming to Keld to take part. 

Thanks to everyone for supporting this event

and to our knowledgeable and experienced volunteers for guiding the walk.

 

 

 

 

 



Keld Charity Tractor Run

The very first Keld Tractor Run held on Sunday 29th May 2016 

elected the Keld Resource Centre as their chosen charity.

 

 

Thirty six tractors of all ages, makes & models descended on

John Rukin's car park at Park Lodge in Keld before setting off

on a 35 mile tractor run down the dale to Grinton and back again.

 

 

Organised and led by Chris Calvert (driving his 1948 Grey Fergie) the run was heralded a huge success largely because of the extensive off-road sections and spectacular Swaledale scenery.

 

 

The event raised £460 for the Keld Resource Centre project.

 

 



Countryside & Heritage Centre Events - 2016

 

Despite the Keld Countryside & Heritage Centre being temporarily closed due the restoration work on the rest of the Keld Literary Institute building a full programme of events are planned for 2016.
FULL DETAILS OF ALL EVENTS AT
keld.org.uk or tel: 01748 886845

 

 Saturday 7th May:  Birds of Upper Swaledale Guided Walk

10:00 - 12:30 and 13:30 - 16:00  BOOKING ESSENTIAL Sorry no dogs or children under 8 yrs old.

Cost:  Full day £5, half day £3, children free

 

Saturday 25th June: Waterfalls of the Swale Guided Walk ~ New for 2016 ~

13:30 - 16:00 Cost £3

 

Saturday 2nd July: Flowers of Swaledale Ramble

In association with Yoredale Natural History Society - flower identification walk

10:30 - 14:00 approx.  Cost £5

 

 

Saturday 9th July: To the Source of the Swale Guided Walk ~ New for 2016 ~

11:00 - 13:00 Cost £3

 

Thursday 28th July: Kisdon Classic Circular Guided Walk - Time: 11:00

This is a National Parks Event.  Please contact Hudson House, Reeth for details 01748 884485

 

Sunday 31st July:  Lead Mines of Beldi Hill Guided Walk ~ New for 2016 ~

11:00 - 15:30 Cost £5

 



 

Sunday 21st August:  Meet the Yorkshire Shepherdess Guided Walk

13:30 Cost £8 includes cream tea and lift to Ravenseat Farm.  BOOKING ESSENTIAL

 

Sunday 28th August:  Swinner Gill in the Footsteps of Ella Pontefract Guided Walk

11:00 - 15:30 Cost £5

 

Saturday 10th September: A History of Lead Mining in Keld & Upper Swaledale

A Heritage Open Day Event - Time: 14:00 Venue: Keld Chapel

Entry free - donations to the Keld Resource Centre project and Keld Chapel appreciated.

 

Saturday 12th November:  Celebration Ceilidh - Venue: Keld Public Hall at 7.30 p.m.

Dancing to live Ceilidh Band, Cobbler's Jig  Adults £15, Concessions £12.50 & £10

Includes 2-course supper.

 



 



Keld School - Philip's Story

 

 

Philip Calvert is the joiner working on the restoration of the Literary Institute.

Philip attended Keld School and has many fond and funny memories of his school days there.

 

 

How times have changed. Philip at the school door wearing a hard hat not a school cap.

 

Philip remembers the steps to the Literary Institute and the challenge they posed.

At playtimes the challenge was to take a run and try and jump onto the top step. It was harder than it looks and resulted in more than a few grazed knees!

 

For more stories of Keld School scroll back through old posts on this blog.

 



Restoration Work at the Keld Literary Institute - more news

 

The old building is getting a lot of attention ....

 



New floor joists on the ground floor. 

Upstairs the floor is raised so that the whole of the first floor is on one level 

 

 

 

 

 The original floorboards are re-laid in the smaller of the two upper rooms.

   

 

Philip Calvert of Gunnerside but formerly of Keld is the project joiner.

(more of him in the next blog post)

 

 

In this end of the building the roof timbers are to be left exposed.

 

 

Work being carried out at the entrance of the Visitor Centre to make it accessible to all.

 

Progress Report on the Literary Institute Upper Room Project

 

 

It may look like a building site and that's because IT IS A BUILDING SITE!

 

 

An internal wall has been removed allowing light from the beautiful arched window in the stairwell to flood into one of the upper rooms.

 

 

This rectangle in the basement is where the lift will go.

 

 

Cold but sunny - a gorgeous day to be up a ladder!

 

 

 



A Milestone Moment for the Keld Literary Institute Project

 

Finally, after years of fund raising the next stage of the

Keld Resource Centre Project is under way.

 

 

Tony Sunter, a local builder from Reeth, has been given the 

contract for the restoration of the Literary Institute building. 

 

Stripping out, down to the stonework, in the one of

the upstairs rooms has revealed an original fire opening.

 

The main communal room in the former Literary Institute.

 A suspended ceiling has been removed to reveal the original ceiling structure.

 

 

An exciting start.  More to follow as the work progresses.

Watch this space!