A Short History of HRM
Finally, we have moved! - An update from Huddersfield!
As many Yorkshire O Gauge Guild members will know, last year Huddersfield Railway Modellers, including its 7mm Group were actively looking to find a new clubroom. There was deep uncertainty over the future of their Milnsbridge clubrooms, their home for well over the previous decade. Possible re-redevelopment of the mill building had forced the decision to look for alternative premises.
By the end of 2019 suitable premises were located in a former textile mill in nearby Lockwood, much nearer to Huddersfield town centre. Negotiations with the prospective new landlord were underway so that by January 2020 terms were agreed and a lease signed. It was inevitable and accepted that for a short period, HRM would have two properties to fund whilst all the necessary preparations for moving homes were undertaken.
Work was started at Bath Mill by the landlord’s own workforce to open out the former offices space HRM was taking over. The heating system needed re-routing and updating and several water leaks in walls, around some windows and the ceiling needed attention. After these were cured HRM members could commence their jobs - painting walls, installing new lighting, building a new kitchen and toilets, and fitting out the new Library and Lounge areas. As work progressed at Bath Mill over a couple of months, back at Milnsbridge the club’s layouts were dismantled, crated and made ready for the big move. The contents of the extensive HRM Library were boxed. Hard decisions had to be made about what items to keep and what to throwaway from a decade of accumulated 'material and junk' members had gathered over many years. Gradually the project was coming together and it was hoped the move might actually take place before April 2020 ended. By mid-March a professional mover with two medium size vans and accompanying 'muscle' to help had been consulted. Then BANG ! The Covid lockdown happened!!! Nothing could continue at either site. All work stopped! We were in limbo until when? Nothing much occurred for over three months.
When the lockdown was eventually eased and access to Bath Mill was possible again, some members, who felt they could, picked up the move project again. Painting and other main preparation works at Bath Mill were eventually largely completed and the 'big move' was now finally planned for Friday 14th August. Two vans plus five hired-in ’big lads’, supported by club members were needed to transport six full van loads of layouts etc. across town. At the end of that day, after all the frustration, HRM had actually moved - only several months later than originally projected and alas, with large additional expenses incurred as a result.
Prior to the move, a scale floor plan of the new premises had been drawn up with scale layout footprints added to determine which of the various different scale layouts would fit and where. Upon arrival from the vans the different crated layouts were left stacked in these allocated spaces to be uncrated and assembled later. This process is still underway with still some way to go. Efforts have been made to make the new clubrooms as Covid compliant as possible but only limited numbers of member visits have so far taken place and of course we have to respond to the ever changing Covid situation, advice and rules that apply at the time.
Over the next few months, Covid allowing, members hope to progress and consolidate this layout activity further. They look forward to the day when the year 2020, and ‘Covid’ are perhaps but a distant memory, and HRM can again invite O Gauge railway modellers and other friends to come along and enjoy the new Bath Mill facilities here in Huddersfield.
