2019 Renovations

FEBRUARY 2019

The team from the Green Room School went in and tore down the canopy in the courtyard that was at the side of the main pub - it was completely rotten and dangerous. The "For Sale" sign has gone.

Sootbusters cleaned several of the chimneys already. The office ceiling was taken down. Taken more of the walls in the bar back to the brickwork plus removed all the radiators and sinks from the bar and stopped several pipe leaks.

See the renovation diary for February 2019.

MARCH 2019

Opened up several airbricks that had been sealed. Removed the rotten floor boards and joists in the bar area. Laundry roof was replaced. Still dealing with damp, dry rot, etc. More scaffolding was added so remedial work on the roof could be started.

Inside the structural engineer has been working with the team. They have been discussing how to remove the pillars in the centre of the bar to create a bigger open plan area. The solution will need steel beams to be inserted and Planning Department approval.

See the renovation diary for March 2019.

APRIL 2019

The footings were dug out in the bar. Some walls in the bar were demolished and Acrow Props inserted. The electricians have done the initial wiring for school room, more to follow. The rotten part of the stairs to the school room (hall) have being replaced.

See the renovation diary for April 2019.

MAY 2019

The bar floor was completed including the steel under the floor which was given a protective coat. Most of the subfloor for the bar was actually laid. Note this is the footings, joists and damp proofing. Trenches in the courtyard were completed and the electricity supply was then upgraded to three phase. The final bits of the bar ceiling were removed.

Further tidying work was done in the school room with it being readied for replacement of any faulty boards. See the renovation diary for May 2019.

JUNE 2019

the Fire Brigade came to The Swan and rescued the old pub sign for us. The Crown Estate Forresters also donated the bar top, a huge wooden plank from a fallen 300-year-old cedar tree from the Great Park.

The Building Inspector visited and gave a thumbs up for the new steels. Immediately the volunteer team got stuck in and started laying the insulation. The side entrance got a new slate roof. The cellar was re-tanked. Door frames in the two toilets were inserted. All-in-all a pretty busy month!

See the renovation diary for June 2019.

JULY 2019

Insulation, insulation and more insulation -the entire bar floor was insulated and the subfloor laid. The plasterboarding of the ceiling and pillars was completed and then most of it was actually plastered. The heating system was connected up with the appropriate controls and tested.

Key was adding back the temporary bar and kitting our the cellar so we could operate as a pub for the opening on the 20th. This took to 11.30pm on the night before opening.

See the renovation diary for July 2019.

AUGUST 2019

We saw power established in the main building. Lights were installed as well as radiators. During the month we also saw more painting, more plastering and more pointing too. The bar was a real hive of activity.

The School Room was also a focus of attention to get it ready for the new term and students. Lighting, painting, finishing.

See the renovation diary for August 2019.

SEPTEMBER 2019

A lot of painting this week. Walls, windows, skirting ... the lot. We had a call for help which was answered by our volunteers and helped greatly. Even a visitor from California even got involved and Kelly from the bar team!

Site clearance was a priority and finishing the very last bits of The School Room such as the ironworks on the external stairs. The School opened on schedule!

Scott the Plumber was busy gettng the heating system working. The sparkies were hard at it connecting up in the bar and in the cellar. The fire system was also installed and commissioned.

See the renovation diary for September 2019.

OCTOBER 2019

The toilets were finished with baby changer units, signes, etc. Boarding done in the office to allow the sparkies to finish their phase 1 work. And it was the month the safety notices were removed from the main gates.

And we had the visit of BBC Radio Berkshire too.

See the renovation diary for October 2019.

NOVEMBER 2019

The spoil heap was cleared out taking away many tons of waste. Sofits and facias were done. The professional roofers started on The Stables.The security cameras were completed offering excellent protection.

Colin (aka Jock) donated a gorgeous bell for the bar, to make the call for for last orders authentic. Thanks Colin.

We had a small hiccup with the front wall and as a temporary measure we have had to do some shoring-up. That allowed us to actually fix the gates so they open and close properly.

DECEMBER 2019

The drains got a full clear-out, but after a camera inspection the professionals lined the pipework to prevent further blockages. The Workday Warriors fireboarded the kitchen ceiling. There was more work in the office.

One of the chimneys was reduced in height by our professional team. And Bes came to the rescue to clear-up the dust inside the pub too.

And the courtyard and outbuildings were made ready for our impending Winter Fayre and W&E Living Advent Calendar.

See the renovation diary for December 2019.