ANYBODY recently passing the Arts and Crafts Centre in Broad Street will have noticed that the Bury treasure is now partially covered in corrugated metal hoardings and will soon be completely enveloped.

This is because contractors William Anelay Ltd have now taken possession of the site. They are considered to be one of the UK's leading specialists in the conservation and restoration of fine and historic buildings and were established 260 years ago.

With offices in York and Manchester, they boast a wide range of traditional craftsmanship skills. They have completed conservation, repair and restoration on a wide range of properties including abbeys, churches, stately homes, historic industrial premises, municipal buildings and private homes, so the Arts and Crafts Centre appears in safe hands.

The first site meeting took place last Friday and a full programme was presented showing which tasks would take place at which point in the project.

Director Edmund Gartside represented the Fusiliers' Museum. He said: "We have heard good reports of this contractor from Gorton Monastery where they have just completed a substantial project - so we expect reasonably smooth progress and a timely completion."

Mr Gartside toured the building with project architect, Gareth Riching, other technical consultants and site manager Gary Wilson.

The site work is in its early stages but the removal of modern partitions has already revealed a few historic features which have not been seen for years.

The distinctive radiators, which past students and teachers will remember, have been removed for restoration before being returned to be reinstated as part of an upgraded and much more controllable heating system.

The site meetings will take place on a monthly basis and enable us to report progress and (fingers crossed there aren't too many) problems that encountered during the repair and construction.

As the project moves forward - please don't forget that we still need Bury Times readers to support our Brick Sponsorship scheme - a vital element of the final fund raising push.

The money raised will provide stack-bonded red bricks for the wall of the museum which faces onto Sparrow Park. If you haven't already bought some, please clip out the coupon from this newspaper or visit our stand in the Mill Gate Shopping Centre. Every brick sponsor is issued with a certificate and their name and message will be preserved forever in the museum.

Learn more about this and the museum project or make a donation on our website www.fusiliersmuseum-lancashire.org.uk. For any other information call 0161 764 2208.