Students to restore abandoned 19th century cottage

Takunda Magwaza, one of the students taking part, said he was conducting a detailed survey of the old cottage

Students transforming an abandoned 19th Century cottage into a wellbeing hub said it was vital on-the-job experience which would boost their job prospects.

Northampton College has gone into partnership with the town's Delapré Abbey to restore a cottage in the abbey's grounds.

Takunda Magwaza, 20, studying for a T-level in design, surveying and planning for construction, hoped it would lead to "far more opportunities in the future".

Amanda Nicols-Polinska, from the Delapré Abbey Preservation Trust (DAPT), said the students were "learning real-life skills in a real-life environment".

Amanda Nicols-Polinska said the partnership between Northampton College and Delapré Abbey was creating "a legacy for our community"

Ms Nicols-Polinska, DAPT's deputy chief executive, said the property - gardener's cottage number two - had been abandoned for a decade.

DAPT received £3m from the Lottery Heritage Fund to transform the house and nearby stables into a community wellbeing hub.

It is hoped the work will be finished by April 2026.

"We've handed this cottage over completely to the college and the students," she said.

"They're learning real-life skills in a real-life environment and they should pick up some heritage skills and hopefully have a sense of pride as they finish it."

Skills needed include stonemasonry, carpentry, brickwork, plumbing, electrics and decorating.

Gardener's cottage number two is in need of major renovation

Mark Bradshaw, curriculum manager for construction at Northampton College, said he wanted all his 600 students to work on or visit the cottage.

"It's about working with employers and working with the community.

"They're going to be linking with people that do this day in and day out and it's just going to develop those skills and make them more employable and hopefully fill those skills gaps in the future," he said.

Students will work on the building for several months

Mr Magwaza said the "amazing" experience "will give us a much broader idea of what we're studying and what we're getting into".

He had already seen woodworm and was working out how to remove a wall.

He hoped it would lead to a job with one of the companies helping with the renovation.

"It will offer far more opportunities in the future," he added.

Lola Carder said she was learning about health and safety and budgeting

Lola Carder, 19, also studying design, surveying and planning for construction, said she and her fellow students had already dived "right in".

"It's really going to help to enforce the knowledge and concepts that we learn in class. It's hands on.

"It will look absolutely amazing [on my CV]."

She said it also showed construction was "not just bricklaying and plaster boarding - there's a management side of it".

Ashley Warner said it was great students were working alongside other trades

Ashley Warner, project manager for Metcalf Decorators, which is working with the students, said: "I've been doing this for 30 years and this is the first time I've ever been association with this sort of scenario.

"We need to invest for the future and encourage the youth to start apprenticeships, to come and join the industry."