The Brooking Collection of Architectural Detail is seeking support to secure its future.
The Booking Collection is the only major national Collection of its kind in the U.K., physically charting the evolution of British building details over the last 500 years. Its Founder, Charles Brooking, has rescued architectural features since 1966, retrieved from national Landmark buildings to the humble terrace house and country estates to vernacular cottages. It has been used as a teaching resource by conservation professionals, schools, architectural students, designers, crafts apprentices and private individuals for the last 23 years.
Chares Brooking writes:
Please would you kindly give consideration to our following Trust Appeal. ?We would be most grateful for any assistance and suggestions that you might be able to offer.
In order to stress the gravity of the current situation – which has occurred through no fault of our own – The unique Brooking Collection of Architectural Detail (the only major national museum of its kind in the U.K.) – faces closure literally within 3-4 weeks unless we receive funding.
Our website ‘The Brooking Collection.com’ is currently undergoing reconstruction and should be back online in 2-3 weeks. Please ‘Google’ the words ‘Charles Brooking in Cranleigh’ for an overview, but note that any references to Dartford and Greenwich are now out-of-date.
The Brooking Collection has moved into a potentially new and exciting phase. The original Trustees have now retired and a dynamic set of Trustees and friends are being established to institute the Collection as a national teaching centre of excellence aimed at those involved in the conservation, repair and study of historic buildings. These include designers, architects, craft apprentices, students, schools and private individuals.
Over the last 16 years students attending Charles’s C.P.D.s have stressed the burning need for such a centre, as nothing of its type presently exists. We hope to not only establish a teaching centre and museum, but make the Collection available online, after cataloguing and rationalisation. However, to achieve this goal we must overcome a major funding obstacle.
The last three months have seen a time of great change for The Brooking Trust. The original Trustees who have managed the Collection for the last 25 years have now retired and, thanks to the efforts of a pro bono solicitor, Gerald Bland, a Limited Liability company has been formed to manage the Trust. The inherited debt that arose from the secretarial/administration costs to the logistics of relocating part of the Collection, etc., incurred a great liability, which has been in part, paid off. This sum was in excess of £14,500. This has had the effect of removing our ability to go forward as the funds now existing are nil.
The University of Greenwich are no longer able to support the Collection and a new temporary home has had to be found and, in this effort, we have been successful. The costs of the relocation to Cranleigh are in excess of £30,000 and the initial set-up costs of the new store have exceeded £3,500. Had we failed to secure this accommodation, the Collection would have been subject to total loss – an almost inconceivable event.
What do we want? At this moment we need to raise over £30,000 to secure the costs about to be realised to ensure the continuation of this effort and safeguard the Collection for the forthcoming year. We appeal to you to aid us, either in total or in part, as a Gift Aid or as an interest-free loan for one year. The Brooking Collection is a Registered Charity, No: 294368. Should you wish to make a donation, it would be greatly appreciated if the cheque could be made payable to The Brooking Architectural Museum Trust.
Please reply in the first instance, A.S.A.P. to this appeal, or ‘phone Charles on Tel: (01483) 274203 to register your interest and allow us to illuminate on any questions you may have, or to arrange a meeting with you at your convenience.
This is very serious and so hope you can help. Volunteers, and any professional input, would also be most welcome
Contact: charlesbrooking33@gmail.com
Tel 01483 274203
