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| Joe Conlon of the Birmingham Pals re-enactment group |
Unique Great War survivor opens its doors
One of Staffordshire's unique and fascinating historical buildings is opening its doors once again - over 90 years after it was first built.
The Cannock Chase Great War Hut, one the few remaining First World War barrack huts left in the UK, will be reopened to the public on Sunday April 27 at 2.30pm.
A special opening ceremony is the culmination of several years of hard work by dedicated local enthusiasts to bring this remnant of the Great War back to life for the people of Staffordshire.
The hut, which has been painstakingly rebuilt near the visitor centre at Marquis Drive on Cannock Chase, will be a Great War Interpretation Centre for school groups and the general public. It has been kitted out just like it was in 1916 at the height of the war.
Sunday afternoon will see the hut in action once again, with a team of 40 First World War re-enactors from the Birmingham and Manchester Pals bringing this key period in British and Staffordshire history back to life.
Visitors will be able to see, hear, touch and smell the past with displays of infantry and cavalry and period vehicles on show.
A medals expert will also be on hand to help local people research their own family links to the Great War. So if you have a hero in the family or medals in the closet, dust them down and get down to Marquis Drive on Sunday afternoon.
The opening has enormous resonance right around the world as Cannock provided a training ground and home for thousands of troops from the New Zealand Rifle Brigade who served on the western front during the conflict.
The New Zealand Deputy High Commissioner, Bronwen Chang and Sqn Ldr Sam Leske from New Zealand Defence will be attending the opening in celebration of their country's association with the Chase.
The project has been the brainchild of County Councillor John O'Leary and has been delivered by Staffordshire County Council in partnership with the Friends of Cannock Chase.
Funding for the project has come from the Staffordshire Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund - a fund created by the Government from a levy on quarrying operations to benefit communities affected by quarrying.
Further match funding has been secured by the County Council, making it possible for the hut to be restored in all its traditional glory.
Councillor O'Leary said he was very excited that at last his dream has been realised.
"The Great War Camps on Cannock Chase played such an important role in local, national and international history. It's wonderful that we have got the chance to create a window on the past for present and future generations.
"The Chase is such a valuable place. It's recognised as one of Europe's top lowland heathland habitats, renowned for its rare wildlife. It also has a fascinating history, with the remains of medieval industry and war scattered amongst the heather.
"The new interpretation centre will help make the connections for local people with an important chapter in our past. The Great War ripped apart families and set nation against nation. It impacted on the lives of ordinary Staffordshire people very directly.
"But it was from that age of conflict that the modern world we live in today was forged. We must never forget the sacrifice and the suffering. That's why the Centre will be so important for local school children," he said.
June Jukes of the Friends of the Friends of Cannock Chase said they were delighted by developments.
"Many of our members have been concerned about and interested in this fascinating period of the Chase's history for a long time. We have organised themed walks and events. So when the opportunity arose to develop the barracks as an interpretation centre, we jumped at the chance.
"This project will help local people understand and appreciate what an important role Cannock Chase played in the critical period of modern British and international history. We will be working closely with the County team to make the dream come true," she said.
Councillor O'Leary will be officially opening the project at 2pm and the public will be able to see the historic building and watch the re-enactment displays from 2.30pm.
Some facts about hte Barracks Hut:
A team of specialist architectural restorers have been hard at work over the last year reconstructing this original barrack hut from the 1915 Brocton and Rugeley training camps.
After the Great War the hut was sold to the Sandon Estate for use as Gayton Parish Rooms, and was transported by horse and cart from the Chase to Gayton.
And that's where it stayed for the next 80 years - an unsung hero living out its retirement in obscure bucolic tranquillity.
When the village decided to build a new village hall in 2006 it looked like this little corner of British history could have been swept away for ever.
But luckily for the hut the County Council's Countryside and Environment team had started to piece together the history of the Chase encampment and were on the lookout for any of the original buildings.
Gayton Parish Council were on the alert and only too pleased to be able to help and in May 2006 the building was carefully dismantled, catalogued and put into storage while the conservation team applied for planning permission to get it rebuilt.
County Environment experts teamed up with the Friends of Cannock Chase and brought in a crack team of restorers to put it back together to form the centre piece of an exciting Great War Camp Interpretation Centre.
Page Last Modified:
28/04/2008 10:40:24
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