Museum repairs approved with bill more than £1.2m

Work to stop a “nationally important” Grade I listed building from being lost forever has been agreed.

Waverley Borough Council signed off plans to restore the home of the Museum of Farnham, Willmer House, after agreeing to covering the £300,000 funding gap.

The authority had been successful in lining up grants to cover the majority of the project’s cost.

The final projected bill is expected to be £1,286,713.

With outside bodies covering £985,000, Waverley Borough Council has said it would fill the void while it looks for new grants.

Farnham Town Council and Farnham Museum Society have said they would commit £10,000 each to the project as well.

The museum is considered one of Surrey’s most important buildings.

In recent years it has fallen into disrepair, with decaying brickwork and collapsing second floor windows.

The council said there is “extensive decay” throughout and visible cracking.

The age and height of the building meant that not all parts of the upper floors and roofing could be accessed.

Councillor Kika Mirylees said: “Given the age of this Grade I listed building it is not impossible that other additional repairs would need to be done.”

The result is that the council has ringfenced a further £237,000 to cover any unforeseen work.

Councillor Liz Townsend, portfolio holder for planning, said: “It’s really important that we do secure its future, so that it can continue to serve the community for many years to come.”

Willmer House was built in 1718 and later became a school and dental surgery.

In 2012 the building was bought by Waverley Borough Council from Surrey County Council.

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