THE MINT HOUSE

BACKGROUND

The Mint House is a stunning building Grade II* listed building, a former Inn, built in the 1540's during a brief period of prosperity when Pevensey had access to the sea and therefore trade focussed on the rich iron industry of the Sussex Weald.

The Mint House, High Street, Pevensey, former Inn, shop, antiques emporium and attraction - literally in the heart of the town, with the Roman walls of the castle in the background

For much of the last 100 years The Mint House was an antique shop and a local visitor attraction with a great line in (mostly fictional) stories of prestigious visitors and nefarious goings on.

Although the building is described as 'an excellent example of a non-domestic Tudor building', with C17th wallpaintings surviving on its walls and extraordinary timber framing and contemporary combed daubwork, it is also on the Buildings at Risk Register.  Years of superficial repairs have left the building needing extensive roof repairs and sympathetic restoration.  The worst estimates are that these works could cost in the region of £3 million.  Obviously as a small charity we don't have this sort of money hidden down the back of any sofas, so we need to raise funds from a number of sources.

The atmospheric 'Oak Room', a late C16th extension to the original building, 'enhanced' by artistic additions in the C19th

We have been very fortunate in being backed by the National Lottery Heritage Fund for a project to strengthen the charity and trial events, hires and other mostly business building, endeavours.  This has also paid for a tiny but highly experienced staff team (for 12 months) to drive the project forward and with them in place we have achieved so much more than we could have done previously.

The Mint House Charity was created on 2021 in response to the building having been closed and unoccupied for a few years with the idea of purchasing the building and restoring it.  Since 2022 we have been exploring alternative ways to bring the building back to life and make it relevant for another 500 years!  

We have a mission to create a truly inclusive experience where we are not afraid to be different in approaches to interpretation and use of the wonderful spaces we have within this remarkable building.

• "I invited friends and colleagues from Brighton and London, old college friends from Shoreham, Hove and Brighton (plus their kids), My family and my neighbours from East and West Sussex and everyone came as it was such an appealing event, something for everyone! I think in that respect the event has been brilliant for tourism in Pevensey in general and awareness of the mint house project specifically as every single person has expressed a wish to return and it had not been somewhere on their radar previously to visit!" Jolene, artist &maker on Conjuring Summer

Conjuring Summer, 29th June 2024 - curated market, exhibition and tattoo studio

During 2024, with the support of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, we are strengthening our governance and trialling a number of events and activities that include carefully curated markets alongside works of contemporary art and a licensed tattoo studio, exhibitions inspired by local stories and folklore and the creating of a community of supporters.  

We have already achieved great success with building our support from people who may not otherwise have felt welcome in traditional heritage settings, but who have a deep love for them.  We are proud to be a place where our activities promote inclusion and we are not afraid of 'doing heritage differently' so long as the benefits are seen within The Mint House and among our community.

"Unlike other historical places and heritage places I have visited the Mint House’s  approach to exhibiting is refreshingly unpretentious.  ‘Conjuring Summer’ was really much a very inclusive event, and I was delighted my work was being enjoyed by a new, vibrant, diverse audience." Danny, artist and maker

"Doing Heritage Differently" - The Mint House has a fully licensed tattoo studio and brings people into heritage from different angles very successfully

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

All of us here at The Mint House have been blown away by the support our events and exhibitions get.  From writing glowing testimonials and liking our social media to volunteering your precious free time for us, we know you love this strangely, bizarre but beautiful place.

But now we have to ask for more.

We need your support through cash, bread, readies, ducats, shilling or even clam, frogskins, bones or loot. Whatever you call it, this project needs it.

We are at a crossroads. We know you love what we are doing and we love doing it too. But…the building needs a lot of work on it to ensure that you, our wonderful community, can continue to enjoy it.

 We specifically need to raise funds to work with specialists to understand the current condition of the building. We also need to commission reports on the history of the building and draw together our plans for the future and all of this costs…a lot.

Beyond that, we need to think about securing the future of the building, perhaps through community purchase or other means.

We then have to fund all those tricky repairs that the reports will tell us about, as well as making this a building that has a tangible and relevant future.

This can be something that you can be part of for years to come. We want to be more inclusive, do more fun things, create unique and engaging experiences and make opportunities for many to play a part in this building and our growing community’s future.

To help with this campaign, please  donate what you can. Anything and everything will be appreciated more than you can ever know.

 Rather than reward individuals who donate more than others, we want to reward everyone who contributes through opportunities including exclusive tour days, invitations to previews and even participation in some wonderfully, weird and suitably spooky events. More will be revealed as the campaign progresses.

The Glasshouse, a C19th addition to the building and a perfect location for a studio, exhibition or ceremony

Any help that you can give will go directly to making all of this happen.  You will not only be saving a very, very special building but you will also be enabling a whole new generation to be inspired enough to ensure that The Mint House has a sustainable and joyous future.  

You can join us in showing that heritage can be 'done differently' and that buildings like The Mint House can continue to have relevance far into the future if we just use some creativity and imagination now.

• "'Conjuring Summer at the Mint House was the most joyful folkloric event I've ever had the pleasure of being involved in." Matt, artist and maker

We have recently been the recipient of the London and South East England Prestige Award 2024/25 - Historic Attraction of the Year and we want this to be the start of future recognition.