The Bermuda National Trust is looking to raise more than $200,000 for the make over of one of Sandys’ most historic properties.

“Springfield, at 29 Somerset Road, is an exceptionally important Trust property with buildings that are fine examples of Bermuda vernacular architecture,” said Dorcas Roberts, director of preservation, at the BNT. “The estate is unusual in that it descended in an unbroken family line from its first owner in the late 1600s until it was purchased by the Historical Monuments Trust in 1966 (the Bermuda National Trust’s predecessor).”

The present structure dates to the 1740s and was owned by the Gilbert and Hunt families for many years. It has been subjected to extensive architectural research by experts from Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia. It includes a courtyard, slave houses, buttery and separate kitchen and a later addition of a veranda.

In more recent years it was used as the Sandys Public Library. When that closed its doors, Springfield fell into disrepair. It will cost the BNT around $400,000 to bring the cultural gem back up to snuff. Part of that money has already been found, but $210,000 still needs to be raised.

Mrs Roberts said the property’s development reflects the story of Bermuda and the Island’s way of life throughout the centuries.

“It is an outstanding educational resource and Springfield’s history and archaeology have been exhaustively researched,” she said. “Our buildings team is currently working hard to preserve the buildings by providing them the urgent care and attention they need — the roofs and exterior walls have been repaired and painted and the exterior mill work is now being refinished.”

Mrs Roberts said the historic veranda of the main building is in a very poor state of repair and is currently unsafe. The BNT has submitted a planning application to make urgent structural repairs to make it secure and halt its deterioration.

“We also want to remove unsympathetic and deteriorating modern additions and replace missing structural and decorative features,” she said. “We have also applied to change the use of main house to commercial, which its layout and grounds lend themselves to, and to turn the small cottage at the rear back into a residence following its use as an office over the last 14 years. This is to ensure that a new use and life can be found for both of these important buildings. In an attempt to limit the amount of channelling to the buildings, the planning application seeks to convert a small outbuilding into a communal laundry for the three apartments on the property.”

The roof of the two-storey cottage on the property has collapsed in part and requires immediate replacement, which the BNT hope to start in February. They have also applied to alter the modern exterior steps on this building to uncover part of the original steps and install safety banisters.

“We are working with limited resources and our capital funds are stretched even more than usual in this difficult financial climate,” said Mrs Roberts. “Wherever possible we are using internal expertise but the cost of the repairs to the property is still budgeted to be $400,000. We are currently seeking $210,000 to reach this goal.”

If you would like to make a donation restricted to Springfield’s repair or are interested in potentially renting any of the buildings following their repair, please contact Dorcas Roberts at 236-6483 x 216.