A restoration specialist from Trinidad, Mr. Justin Charles, has been in Anguilla to advise on ways and means of restoring the historic Wallblake House bakery, a small outdoor building which was severely damaged by Hurricane Irma.
He was invited to Anguilla from St. Kitts by Ms. Jasmin Garraway who is among persons leading the restoration of the old plantation house which is now being developed as a historical home.
“This is a sort of technical visit by Mr. Justin Charles who is a restoration specialist from Trinidad. He has been doing work in the region and was in St. Kitts so I stole him to come to give us some advice,” Ms. Garraway told The Anguillian newspaper. As you know, we lost the roof of the bakery building. Because it is dating back to the 1780s, we need to be very sure of what we are doing to restore it. I asked him if he would come over and spend a day or two to look at the building and give us some advice. He will be meeting with Mr. Kenn Banks (a Civil Engineer) and to put their minds together to see what could be done.
“At the same time I have had him look at the cistern and he is recommending certain steps to be taken to enhance it, but to maintain its integrity.”
Mr. Charles is the Managing Director of Parvenir Heritage and Restoration Consultancy. “Parvenir was established in 2010 with another colleague,” he explained. “Our main objectives are to provide specialist services in built heritage restoration as well as education. At this point in time we have been educating our clients as to how to restore, cost and maintain their structures. We have been doing some work in Trinidad and in the region. Our latest job is in St. Kitts as the restoration managers of the St. Christopher Museum, and the National Trust is our employer there. We are also doing a condition survey of one of the walls at the Brimstone Hill Fort. In addition, we are working with the National Trust in Trinidad on Nelson Island which is also a heritage site. We are also working in St. Lucia with the National Trust, as well as the Catholic Church, giving advice.”
About the Wallblake House bakery building, Mr. Charles stated: “I understand the history behind it and it needs some repair work. I was really hoping to hear from Ms. Garraway that she had all the funds to get the job done, but that is not the case so I am here to help as much as I can in terms of giving advice.”
He continued: “The building can be restored. The major areas are the roof and the chimney. It is not a lot of work to be restored because it is a small structure. At this time in the Caribbean, built heritage brings in revenue with regards to tourism…They are coming to learn about the people and their culture – and you have to have something that speaks about your culture. I visited the House today and Ms. Garraway and her team have done a lot so far, but I think that they need help.”
He said that Ms. Garraway would like to get the work done as quickly as possible and that the materials could be sought through his company. The materials could also be provided by other suppliers of limestone and mortar – as well as persons who could actually replicate the necessary stones for the block work.
Meanwhile, Ms. Garraway disclosed that she was involved in raising funds for the rebuilding of the bakery and was expecting some financial assistance from an outside source which she did not name. She said she was also in consultation with a number of local persons who might be of much assistance with the restoration of the bakery building.
