image credit: Christine Racher
The renovation of the Mint House site in Pevensey is beginning to electrify interest in the community.
Owners of a pocket art gallery that is now based at the Bay Hotel in Pevensey Bay described the project as ‘very interesting indeed’.
Observers are beginning to talk about the possibilities with what might happen at the site.
The Makery, the successful collective of artists and ceramicists based in Eastbourne, has already been mentioned by Jason Rolf, the new owner of the Mint House, as ‘one of the organisations that I will be contacting’..
One possibility being considered is that the building may become tenanted by small start-up businesses with a creative edge, perhaps some businesses working in the fields of digital start up with a focus on art, history or Peveney as a visitor destination.
Another possibility is the site may one day be occupied by a number of organisations whose role is to network economic activity in East Sussex with a remit around regeneration.
The possible decision by just one of those prestigious organisations to open a satellite office in the village would bring a new demographic to the area in terms of people and their roles.
Organisations of the calbre of Sustrans, the walking and cycling network and Action in Rural Sussex, based in Lewes, have already been mentioned in what is at present very much still a theoretical frame of reference.
The village of Pevensey has some unique qualities as a business base in terms of historic profile and setting with some some niche businesses, particularly perhaps digital start-ups with an educational base or history aspect to their services. Sometimes of course, businesses can emerge based on their setting.
The arrival of the Bayeux Tapestry on loan to this country for a year from France, proposed for 2021 will see bids across the country from educational institutions to help tell the story of the Bay Tapestry.
What has not escaped the attention of local entrepreneurs is that the village of Pevensey has a dedicated panel on the famous tapestry.
As one local commentator suggested. the Bayeux Tapestry is a near ’1,000 year old billboard to promote the village, does not get better in terms of a major nationwide and international, ready made promotion.”
Talking to the Pevensey Bay Journal (24 April), entrepreneur Jason Rolf who purchased the property in July 2018 with the intention of ‘bringing the site back to economic life’, told the newsaper “I have a very pleasant architect working hard on a planning application, her background is historic/listed properties so she knows her stuff”.
“At this stage”, he added, “we still need permission to start fixing structural defects like the leaning chimney etc and some roof work and then decide on any changes for the internal layout”.
Talking about his aim he said “my aim is for multiple small offices but I need to see how onerous the building regs are first. The rear buildings will be small workshops plus storage and the dilapidated detached garage will be turned into an energy-efficient office/workshop (subject to planning)”.
Commenting on rumours that the building might be turned back to become an antiques gallery which circulated when he made the purchase he commented, “I’d be very surprised if the front of the building became retail in any shape or form because there is such little demand at the present time, there are enough empty shops in surrounding villages and towns already”.
The first stage of what is in theory an inspirational project with huge challenges has clearly seen a major clearing operation through the autumn of 2018 and early part of this year.
Jason said, “the rear of the property and the courtyards have been completely cleared of vegetation along with all the roof, guttering and drainage so at least it is all largely weather proof. This has taken a lot of time because some of the plants had grown into the building and needed careful removal”.
The excitement about what night happen is palpable. Of course so much will be determined by the outcome of any planning applications, but in theory at this stage we are seeing a project that is a once in a generation opportunity for Pevensey to see significant economic benefit.
Jason told the newspaper. “I’ll keep you updated when things start to happen, won’t be long now”.
The project began in July 2018 with what Jason Rolf described as a decision made in 24 hours.
At the time in a feature interview with the newspaper he began with a comment about the auction.
Was going to the auction a very big decision that took a long-time to make or something more like a recent decision based on research. Do you want to say anything about your thinking at the time?
In response Jason said, “I’d spotted The Old Mint House earlier in the year when it came to auction previously but I was busy with another project so when it came up again I decided to investigate further. I look at a lot of prospective commercial properties and they have to make long-term financial sense.
“At the Old Mint House there were clearly a lot of issues that would need attention and it was going to be difficult to evaluate quickly especially with the auction only a few weeks away. On top of that the years it had remained vacant meant it was being slowly engulfed by vegetation, some of which had made its way inside the property. After downloading the full legal pack and reading through every document I spent evenings and weekends contacting anyone who might offer up some helpful advice and information.
“Much like the viewing, this brought good and bad news but with just one day till the auction I had worked out it was just about viable to take on and 24 hours later I was the new owner”.
The project is beginning to emerge based on the vision of Jason Rolf.
Local people are increasingly beginning to talk about the possibilities with the inspirational project as plans grow through the year.
The project at the site may prove one day to be transformative to the economic fortunes of the historic village.
