Owl House Conservation & Repair Project 2024

Conservation and repair project on the buildings known as "The Owl House" on the Nationally declared site, "The Owl House and Camel Yard National Heritage Site" on ERF 306, Nieu-Bethesda. This project is to sensitively repair damage on the interior and exterior walls where the plaster is delaminating from the walls or are cracking and to conserve the delicate interior finishes of the walls. The bathroom and shed walls requires specific attention as they are severely cracked. Much of the problems with the deterioration and damage of the plaster on the walls seem to correlate with moisture issues. This project will also tend to the moisture problems by waterproofing the roof and by doing the necessary work to tend to these problems. This project aims to preserve the site and will not alter the site in any way other than to reinstate it as it was at the time of Helen Martins; (the creator of the site) death in 1976. The project will be conducted by professionals in the field of heritage conservation and will incorporate the assistance of members of the local community. The project and the professionals involved will train the community in building conservation practice and on maintaining a National heritage site to ensure the continued care of the site. The project will be rigorously documented and a report will be compiled after the completion of the project which will be shared with SAHRA, the local Municipality and also held at the Owl House for future reference.