The Ragged School Museum Trust
The Ragged School Museum
The challenge
Heritage preservation meets project innovation
The Ragged School Museum Trust brought Pulse Consult on board for a major National Lottery Heritage Fund project to refurbish a former school for destitute children.
Founded by Thomas Barnardo in 1877 in warehouses by London’s Regent’s Canal, the locally and nationally loved listed building was in a state of disrepair. It was on the Heritage at Risk register and needed extensive refurbishment to transform it into an accessible, inspiring, modern museum.
Work needed to be undertaken on a huge scale, to a fixed budget. To make matters more complex, work took place during the pandemic – when delays and spiralling materials costs were derailing construction projects worldwide.
The role we played
Our construction consultants supported the museum throughout its funding bid, and once work got to site, we protected their budget by taking a systematic approach to value management. Through effective procurement advice and management, rigorous spend analysis, and an open dialogue with stakeholders, we controlled costs while optimising quality, safety and performance.
The meticulous restoration work included reusing salvaged windows, doors and partitions. The team also exposed the original 1870s timber floor structure, meeting fire regulations by using innovative charring, paint and fire lining techniques. An apprentice scheme also enabled a new generation to hone their carpentry and welding skills.
Construction consultancy services provided on this project
- Project management consultancy
- Project programming & planning
- Stakeholder management
- Value management
- Risk management
- Quality management
- Project governance
- Employer’s agent
The results
Despite the challenges, our construction consultants kept the project on budget, and the museum opened its doors in 2023. The stand-out refurbishment project seamlessly preserved its historical fabric and architectural authenticity, while integrating innovative design, sustainability, functionality, accessibility and technology.
It’s ensured a lasting impact and future for the museum, which has seen an influx of visitors, including around 16,000 schoolchildren a year. They learn about Victorian life and experience lessons in a unique Victorian classroom environment.
The project has also paved the way for the museum to sustainably generate income, through entrance tickets, a gift shop and renting out newly created office space and an on-site cafe.
The stats
RICS
Conservation Awards - shortlisted
RICS
Heritage Awards - shortlisted
16,000
children visit every year
I have no hesitation in endorsing Pulse and recommending them in the warmest possible terms. The Trust has worked with Pulse since 2017, when we started the planning phase of a major NLHF project. In the 1980s the Museum saved an important group of 19th-century warehouses on Regent’s Canal. Converted by Thomas Barnardo into a ‘ragged school’ in 1876, they survive as a unique fragment of Victorian history. Re-opening in July 2023, after extensive refurbishment… the transformation of these remarkable buildings is a triumph. Throughout the lengthy, detailed two-part NLHF bid process, Pulse was a mainstay. Their team was especially sensitive to the balance between the need to respect the fabric of a historic Grade II Listed building but also update the M&E, ensuring the building's longevity. The Trust owes a great debt of gratitude to Pulse and Jonathan for the major part they played in securing a prosperous future for us and an important part of British history.
Erica Davies
|Museum Director
|The Ragged School Museum Trust
Services provided for this project
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