Friends of Sidholme Music Room near £30k target to restore chandeliers
David Wilkinson who holds a royal warrant for glass restoration, gave a talk about the chandeliers at Sidholme Hotel. Ref shs 17-16AW 5012. Picture: Alex Walton - Credit: Archant
A project to restore Sidholme Music Room’s seven chandeliers to their former glory is nearing the completion of its first phase.
The Sidholme Hotel music room chandelier is lowered for inspection by glass restoration expert David Wilkinson. Ref shs 17-16AW 4990. Picture: Alex Walton - Credit: Archant
The Friends of Sidholme Music Room are £6,500 away from their £30,000 total to start repairing the largest of the collection,
Local businesses and heritage groups have been invited to see the biggest chandelier up close on Monday (March 13) in the hope of gaining support to take the group nearer its total.
As part of the fundraising, visitors have been able to sponsor parts of the chandelier in memory of loved-ones.
John McGregor, from the friends group, said he wanted to help after finding a note in a book when he was playing the Music Room’s organ.
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He added: “It was in a red book - it said, ‘please spend some money on this fine instrument’. But there’s never been any money, so I talked to fellow musicians and organists to see if we could do something.”
The friends group was launched in 2013 and successfully raised £20,000 to restore the Music Room’s organ, before focusing on repairing the chandeliers.
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John said: “It’s still a bit of a hidden gem and people who have lived around the area for years do not know about it, I suppose, because it’s off the beaten track. But once people have been there, they start talking about it.”
The friend group aim is to eventually restore the six smaller chandeliers, with the work being carried out by Wilkinson Glass Restorers, the royal warrant holder.
Monday’s event will take place in the Music Room from 6.30pm to 8pm, with light refreshments and music.
Business owners interested in attending the event should contact John on 01395 512728.
