Conservation and restoration a historic house in the Sussex countryside, UK

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: 1 month or more

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    We are a family-run historic house near East Grinstead, in Sussex. The architect of the house later went on to build parts of the Capitol and White House in Washington D.C. In the 1970s it was owned by Led Zeppelin, but by the time our family purchased the house in 1982, it was almost a ruin, and had been divided into flats.

    We've fought a 42 year long battle against fires, floods, dry rot, wet rot, bills and bureaucracy, to restore it to some of its former glory. In the summer, we open to visitors twice a week, and host a series of concerts.

    We do this to preserve our national heritage, and to educate, entertain and inspire people. We don't make any profit from the project - big houses are very expensive to run and maintain - but have been lucky to host more than 1,000 helpers and Workawayers since 1982, who have generously given their time and effort to helping others to appreciate the history, culture, architecture, landscape and music. We'd love you to join us.

    Depending on your age and circumstances, we'll work with you to make sure you acquire the right visa to come to the UK and help us out. We'll provide you with accommodation, and will pay you £9.50 per hour for the help you give us. Please contact us for more information and to discuss this in more detail.

    Thank you for your interest!

    Volunteer recruitment is run by the Latrobe Heritage Trust, a registered charity in England & Wales since 1987.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Farmstay help
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    The house is set in beautiful English countryside, with wonderful walks to picturesque pubs and villages nearby. We're only 25 minutes from London Gatwick airport, and just under an hour from central London by train, and we'll give you advice on what to see in London and how to get there.

    We'll pay for you to have free English lessons if you would like them.

    If you're over 25, qualified to drive, and are planning to stay for longer than two months, we'll insure you on a car (if not, we're only three miles from a large town, East Grinstead, and will happily drive you in to do your shopping).

    We'll have you to lunch/supper sometimes to improve your English. You'll usually be one of several Workawayers - so you'll even have company for beers and barbecues! We also have two beautiful - and often rather naughty - dogs, Mabel and Lily, who can't wait to meet you, and some chickens, who lay a lot of eggs which - importantly - we need your help to eat.

  • UK chairty

    Registered charity

    This host is a registered charity in the UK and is looking for help with their charity project.

  • Help

    Help

    We are currently looking for singles and couples for summer and autumn 2024. Ideally, you'll have skills in some of the following: gardening, construction/building, electrics, plumbing, carpentry, masonry, and/or forestry skills.

    If you're a good self-starter who's enthusiastic and able to work independently sometimes, you'll do well here. There is always a range of interesting projects, from mending greenhouses and growing vegetables to painting window frames, mowing lawns and having tea with our visitors!

    We get lots of fabulous (and hugely appreciated) emails, and it's very helpful if you can list some examples of what you've done with these skills in the past. Unfortunately we can't always reply to all your marvellous emails as they tend to arrive by the hundred, but are grateful for all your interest! We only use Workaway when we have a need for Workawayers, so don't always log in to the site as regularly as we might like.

    We are also taking advance bookings for autumn and winter 2024 (the above skills particularly appreciated).

    Due to the size and complexity of the house and in order to make stays fulfilling and worthwhile, ideally we need Workawayers who can stay for eight weeks or more. Thanks very much for reading this.

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent
    French: Fluent
    Italian: Intermediate

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Workawayers will either have the use of one of three recently refurbished and comfortable cottages. These are comfortable, secluded and have recently been used by our Workawayers.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Depending on your age and circumstances, we'll work with you to make sure you acquire the right visa to come to the UK and help us out. We'll provide you with accommodation, and will pay you £9.50 per hour for the help you give us. Please contact us for more information and to discuss this in more detail.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    5 hours per day, 5 days a week

Host ref number: 663342794162

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