Repairs branch out at West Bromwich's Oak House

Conservation experts are carrying out a £55,000 programme of repairs to West Bromwich's Oak House, centred on a 16th century horizontal beam on which the timber frame rests.

They will also be doing repair work and replacing parts of the timber frame and the panel infill that have been damaged by the failure of the cill beam.

The work is being done to rectify poor quality work done decades ago at the black and white building on Oak Road. Museum manager Frank Caldwell said: "Repair work is taking place at the back of the Oak House to repair poor quality work that was done in the 1950s and 1960s. We are replacing it all with a view for that to become part of the visitor attraction."

The works are separate to the ongoing £1.25 million restoration of the museum. Under the revamp two buildings will be renovated. The first is a 17th Century timber-framed stable block in the grounds, which will host exhibitions. The second is a barn, dating back to the 1800s which will be developed as a shop, cafe, classroom, community room and toilets.

Servants quarters in the house itself will also be restored as part of the scheme and opened to visitors for the first time.

It is hoped that the overall improvements will see visitor figures increase by around 30,000 people a year.

Oak House dates back to 1590 and is thought to have been named after a large tree which stood in front of the house.