THE EPILOGUE page 2
Welcome to 1958! It is a year since the dedication and the contract drags on. As is normal with building contracts in England, it has gone over budget
From Allner Morley & Bolton
To Charlewood
Dear Commander Charlewood
Hall/Church West Parley
Some time ago Messrs R and R M Stacey sent us their account for the completion of the Hall/Church at West Parley and although we have not settled all the details it is apparent that the final cost is going to exceed the amount of the contract price.
This is due to a number of extras having been incurred, some of which you would have been expecting, although the precise figures may not have been known. These include the additional cost of central heating, electrical fittings and additonal points for stage etc., special furnishings, such as lectern, altar rails, etc.; there were also two or three other items, such as increased cost of wages, extra drainage, and the like, which have further added to the cost.
Altogether it looks as if the sum outstanding and due to Mr Stacey is likely to be rather more than £1000.
As there are still one or two matters needing attention I think it would be convenient if a certificate could be issued now and the balance left until we have cleared outstanding matters and settled the final account. It is therefore, proposed to issue a penultimate certificate for £700 and I shall be obliged if you will let me know if you concur in this proposal.
Yours sincerely Morley
Unsurprisingly Commander Charlewood did not concur entirely and wrote back "With regard to the issue of an immediate Contractor's Certificate I am directed to inform you that on the understanding that all outstanding works are taken in hand without further delay my Council is prepared to meet a charge of £500". This is the dog end of the contract, the builder is no longer interested despite the money owing. From the wording of letters written when issuing and receiving architects certificate number 6, the crux of the argument concerns defects that needed rectifying as well as a few outstandings.
1959
On the 14 February 1959 Commander Charlewood was once again directed by his council to write to Mr Morley to enquire "whether Messrs R.M. & R. Stacey intend to undertake the work stated in April 1958 to be outstanding, and if so when the work will be taken in hand" and continues that if they do not there will be no payment to them with the work being given to someone else. Mr Morley agreed that "we should bring this matter to some final conclusion" and an on site meeting was arranged for the 24 February.
There are no notes on file as to the outcome of this site meeting but on the 7 May 1959 Allner Morley & Bolton issued the final account
From Allner Morley & Bolton
To Charlewood
Dear Commander Charlewood
St Marks - Hall Church West Parley
We enclose the statement of Final Account in respect of the erection of your Hall Church by R. M. and R.Stacey Ltd.
From this you will observe that the total cost, including such furnishings and fittings as were supplied or paid for by the builder, has amounted to £6461-3-0.
It is thought that most of the items will be clear, but we would like to make observations on the following items:
No 13 The original intention was to put Stramit board over the flat roof under the roofing felt. This is however, damaged by rain. As we were having a lot of rain at the time when this part of the work was being done, we agreed that 1¼" boarding should be used instead and this resulted in the extra cost stated.
No 14 Before the plans and specifications were sent out to the builders, estimates were obtained from sub-contractors and these formed the basis of the provisional sums included in the specification. One of the items so dealt with was the corrugated asbestos to the roof and the eaves gutters and down pipes. Unfortunately, through an oversight, one of the estimates did not include for eaves gutters and down pipes and this was not discovered until after the contract was signed. Because of this the provisional sum was short of the amount needed.
Item 17 The R.I.B.A. Form of Contract provided for payment of increased cost of labour and materials. From the date of the estimate until the completion of the work, the increase in rates of pay resulted in the extra cost stated.
An Architect's Certificate for the full amount outstanding £611-3-0 is enclosed as it is understood that you will wish to send this to the Church Commissioners. It is recommended, however, that for the time being a sum of, say, £500 be paid to R. M. & R. Stacey,the balance being held until they have completed thevarious small maintenance items. We think when they have received this further payment we shall have little difficulty in getting them to complete the work.
We enclose an additional copy of the statement of Final Account as you will wish to send one to the Church Commissioners.
Yours sincerely Morley
For those of you who would like to see the full final accounts click here
On the 25 May 1959 Commander Charlewood wrote to Stacey's sending them £500 and stating "It is proposed to pay the balance of £111.3s.0d as soon as all work now outstanding is completed". There is no record of it having been done.
Go to Conclusion
Go to : Epilogue : 25 : 24 : 23 : 22 :