About Chedham's Yard

Restoration Village - The amazing victory of 2006 and the events leading up to it

When the Parish Council purchased Chedham’s Yard from Bill Chedham in February 2002 there was no time to do a feasibility study or consider the long-term challenges and costs of restoring this very special historic building with its architectural treasures hidden in the heart of Wellesbourne. They only knew that if they did not purchase it, a precious and unique window on part of the roots of our village would be lost for ever.

The next four years saw slow but steady progress in consulting various bodies and coming to decisions about the future of the yard. A major step forward was taken when Elaine Hughes was appointed Project Officer by the Parish Council in 2005 and PLB were appointed as consultants shortly after.

But the real excitement started and the pace got quicker when it was decided to enter the BBC Restoration Village competition in 2006. For the full story use the timeline below.

Restoration Village competion entered and Chedham's Yard chosen for Midlands heat. Artefacts moved to storage.

Robin Hill, Worcestershire Museums Officer, raised the national importance of the yard

4. Entering Restoration Village

Shortly after this, early in 2006, an advertisement in the national press was spotted by several people in the village inviting applications for a new programme of Restoration on BBC 2. They decided this would be a wonderful opportunity not to be missed and Chedham’s Yard was entered for the competition. During this time the Friends, supervised by Elaine Hughes, were busy putting all the artefacts into a store in Leamington prior to the initial, essential restoration and repair of the building.

Continue to Filming of the yard by Endemol