THERE is nothing quite as satisfying as the pleasure of knocking down an eyesore that has blocked a beautiful view for many years.

And that will be the case when work begins on the demolition of the old gardener’s building at Gilbert White’s House in Selborne.

Part of a multi-million pound project to improve the visitor experience to the museum, which houses both the Gilbert White and The Oates collections, removal of the gardener’s storeroom will open up a magnificent view of the Selborne Hanger.

This will be the first stage of a major redevelopment of the site, made possible by the securing of a £1.68m Heritage Lottery Fund grant, which is to be match funded by the museum.

“This is a very important moment for us, the culmination of years of effort,” said Rosemary Irwin, chairman of trustees, as she prepared to bring a sledgehammer down on the condemned building.

“At long last all the years of preparation and fundraising are yielding a result – the start of our redevelopment project.”

As the sun beat down on the picturesque village of Selborne on May 8, it was also the end of a successful fundraising walk as 28 weary travellers returned home, having had “a smashing time” walking from Oxford to Selborne.

The walk took place over eight days and covered 73 miles. This year’s walk attracted more than 100 walkers, rambling through ancient countryside, alongside rivers, through towns and villages and past many historical sites, including Chawton House Library, before returning to Selborne, once the home of Jane Austen’s elder brother, Edward Knight.

The team, led by Dr Irwin, walked from Oriel College, Oxford, where Gilbert White studied and was a fellow for 50 years, to Selborne, where he lived and wrote. Last year, the team walked the other way – from Selborne to Oxford.

The two walks have raised £30,000 toward the project and the museum has so far raised almost £1m through its own efforts as matching funds for the £1.68m granted by the Heritage Lottery Fund in the spring.

The project will restore the 18th Century stable yard buildings, creating a new visitor entrance that will include a working brewhouse as well as better catering facilities, and open up more of the museum’s treasures – including its remarkable books – to many more people.

After much-needed refreshment provided by the committee of Friends of the Museum, Bryan Oates, great nephew of Captain Lawrence Oates, and a patron of the museum, thanked Dr Irwin and her team of walkers for their energy and commitment.

The museum holds the Oates family’s collections and a new gallery to Frank Oates, the distinguished Victorian explorer and naturalist, is part of the project. The project is expected to be completed in 2018.

Although the walk is over, there is still fundraising to be done. To find out more about the project and donate money to Rosemary Irwin’s walk, visit gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk.

n Gilbert White’s House tells the story of three great explorers of the natural world in its unique galleries. These include the pioneering 18th Century naturalist Gilbert White himself; Captain Lawrence Oates of the final Scott Antarctic expedition of 1911-12, and Victorian explorer of Central America and Africa, Frank Oates.

It is currently open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, 10.30am-5.15pm.