Avez-vous des opinions sur l'avenir du bâtiment public le plus important de Douvres la Maison Deuu? Un groupe de travail, y compris le conseil municipal de Dover, Dover Town Council, and the Dover Society and Dover District Council, is preparing a major bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund to secure the future of our Town Hall at the heart of our community life.
Please have your say by completing the on-line questionnaire. Click the link below.
The earliest parts of the Maison Dieu date back to around 1203 when it was constructed as a place for pilgrims to stop, rest and worship whilst travelling from mainland Europe to Canterbury Cathedral to visit the shrine of Thomas Becket. Dans 1834 Dover Corporation bought the building and began to renovate and extend it, resulting in the building we know and love today. Today the Grade II* Listed building is owned by Dover District Council and leased to Your Leisure who operate the Maison Dieu as a popular venue for community events, concerts, meetings and weddings.
Dans 2014 a working group was set up to explore options for the future of the Maison Dieu. This work culminated in the production of a feasibility study that tested a range of different ideas. Alongside this, a comprehensive report on the building’s significance was produced shedding new light on the rich history of the Maison Dieu. L'une des recommandations formulées par ce travail a été de poursuivre la restauration complète de la Maison Deuu et de rechercher des investissements auprès du Heritage Lottery Fund pour payer pour cela. Les deux documents sont disponibles à consulter sur le site Web du DDC.
Un certain nombre de spécialistes ont maintenant été chargés d'aider le groupe de travail à développer plus en détail les idées et de préparer une application «ronde» au Heritage Lottery Fund pour la soumission à la fin de l'année. L'intention est de créer un projet qui peut s'assurer que la Maison Deuu continue de jouer un rôle central dans la vie communautaire de Douvres tout en s'assurant qu'il est financièrement durable.
L'utilisation communautaire de la Maison Deuu continuera d'être l'objectif principal avec la grandeur du Connaught Hall, Salle de pierre, Council Chamber and Court Room hosting events, functions and meetings. The plan is simply about making them work better with new entrances, WCs, disabled access routes, cloak rooms and storage.
The project will also explore how other parts of the building can be made to work better for the community with sensitive new uses. Initial ideas include a visitor centre explaining the history of the building and providing community meeting rooms, a new café and self-catering accommodation.
A consultation event planned for later in the summer at the Maison Dieu and information on the project is available now on the Heritage pages on the DDC website along with an online questionnaire to find out what you know about the history of the Maison Dieu and how you use it.