Mick Temple

HAVE you ever been to Ford Green Hall? Do you even know where it is? Many of you will say ‘of course,’ but if you don’t know, then you’re not alone in North Staffordshire.

Your children are probably more aware of this fascinating house than you, as every year thousands of schoolchildren visit the hall to get a picture of how life was lived in the 17th century.

The pleasure they show and the memories they take away are a constant source of delight to the staff and volunteers, recently honoured with the Queen’s Award for Volunteers.

In case you aren’t aware of this extraordinary Grade II listed building, the historic and beautiful Ford Green Hall was built in 1624 and is located at the foot of Smallthorne Bank. It is the oldest house in the city and therefore of immeasurable importance to our heritage.

Until 2013 it was run by Stoke-ontrent City Council as a museum, but is now managed by a Charitable Community Group, set up that year to save the museum from closure when the council was faced with some difficult choices about budget cuts.

The council has been generous in their financial and practical support for the museum, especially given the tough times all local government has faced over the past few years.

But keeping the museum going on a sound footing is always difficult and recent problems have exacerbated this.

For example, a survey has revealed significant damage to many of the timber beams on the front of the building. The minimum quote from a specialist builder for these essential repairs is £20,000. That’s a lot of money for the group to raise. They realise these are tough times and that there are many worthy causes which require funding but this building is important to the city.

So, while they are applying for grants from traditional sources, Ford Green Hall Ltd have also set up a Justgiving page to appeal for help in raising money from the public. Contributions, however small, will be gratefully received.

Anyway, this column isn’t intended as an appeal for help.

But what I would urge you to do is to visit the hall and see it for yourself.

The museum’s collection is designated by the Arts Council as “outstanding” and recognised as being of world-class importance. And the building is special in itself.