WALLINGFORD Museum has launched its bid to raise £350,000 by August for a new hand-crafted extension.

Dozens of apprentice carpenters are set to camp on the Kinecroft this summer to construct a timber-framed building to house new galleries, while teaching visitors about historic building methods.

The appeal began in earnest with an open day at Wallingford Town Hall on Saturday for visitors to find out more about the museum.

Supporters are being encouraged to buy the wooden pegs that hold the building together for £4 each, or sponsor a beam for £25 to £3500.

A local wood carver has offered to inscribe each beam with the name of its sponsor.

Curator Judy Dewey said: “We had people in who were very interested and very positive about the whole project.

“Two people have sponsored beams for £2,000 each, and we sold over 500 pegs.”

The extension will feature exhibitions on famous Wallingfordians including Agatha Christie and Judge William Blackstone, as well as a kitchen, toilets and education suite large enough for coach parties.

After two weeks of site preparation in July, a team of carpenters and DIY enthusiasts will prepare oak beams using medieval methods.

They will then construct the timber frames, which will be winched into place behind Flint House in High Street.

Organisers have raised £11,000 of the estimated £350,000 required, while landowners have offered two-thirds of the oak trees needed to build the extension.

Plans have been lodged with South Oxfordshire District Council and Mrs Dewey plans several grant applications to raise the bulk of the funds.

She said: “We are still working towards getting this achieved by August. The major hurdle is to get the money together.”

Archaeological excavations have started on land designated for the extension.

Early digs uncovered 13th-century pottery and the possible outline of a building.