Dudley College Students brush up on their history at Himley Hall
A new partnership between Dudley College of Technology and Dudley Council is helping enhance visitor spaces at Himley Hall while giving students valuable real‑world experience.
Students from the Painting and Decorating course at Dudley College tackled one of their largest projects to date, transforming a former bedroom on the second floor of the historic building.
The room, which commands extensive views across the lake and surrounding parkland, has been redecorated to a high standard. Walls, window frames and radiators have all been freshly painted, with further works planned before the space is brought into use.
Once complete, the room will house items from the Brooke Robinson Collection, allowing the current exhibition area at Himley Hall to be extended and helping more of the collection to be displayed. The Brooke Robinson collection is an independent collection of artworks originally owned by Brooke Robinson, a former MP of Dudley.
Dudley College fully supported the project by funding all materials, providing scaffolding, experienced tutors, and arranging travel for students to the site. The work gave students valuable hands‑on experience of working on a busy heritage site, as well as tackling decorating work on a grand scale. The high ceilings and historic features presented challenges well beyond a typical domestic environment but they rose to the occasion.
During their time at Himley Hall, students met the Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Pete Lee, and the Mayoress, Gloria Lee, alongside Brooke Robinson Trust Trustees Colin Knipe and Margaret Walker, who visited to see the progress and speak to those involved.
The Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Pete Lee, said:
“This is an excellent example of how partnership working can benefit both our historic buildings and young people starting out in their careers. The students have done a fantastic job on a challenging space, and their work will help us share even more of the Brooke Robinson Collection with visitors to Himley Hall.”
Stephen Greaves, lecturer, Dudley College of Technology, added:
“Working in a building like Himley Hall gives students experience they simply can’t replicate in the classroom. The scale, the high ceilings and the need to work carefully in a historic setting all help to build confidence and professionalism. The students should be very proud of what they’ve achieved.”
Colin Knipe, Trustee Secretary of the Brooke Robinson Collection said:
“The Trustees of the Brooke Robinson Collection are very pleased to work as partners with the Dudley Council and Dudley College to enhance the presentation of the collection at Himley Hall. We hope the students learned a lot from their work in this project.”
Partners hope this project marks the beginning of a longer‑term collaboration, with future phases potentially seeing additional rooms at Himley Hall redecorated by Dudley College students. The partnership aims to continue improving the visitor experience while supporting skills development in the next generation of tradespeople.
The Painting and Decorating course at Dudley College is designed to equip students with the practical skills, technical knowledge and on‑site experience needed for a career in the construction and built environment sector. The course covers surface preparation, decorative finishes, health and safety, and working to professional standards, with a strong focus on hands‑on learning. Opportunities such as the project at Himley Hall allow students to apply their skills in real working environments, preparing them for employment or apprenticeships once they complete their training.