Cardigan Guildhall Restoration

A community asset partnershipCardigan Building Preservation Trust Feb 2011

Guildhall Exterior2010

Cardigan Guildhall 2010

Cardigan Town Hall and Market as envisagedin The Building News, September 1859

The earliest known photograph of the Guildhall (late 1860’s -1870?)

Now 2010............ and Then 1860

Ground FloorRadley Room ..................Free Grammar School Kitchen......................................Divinity Library Menter Offices............................Corn Store Upper FloorGreat Hall............................ Assembly Room Chamber ................ Council Meeting Room ’Mechanics Institute’

(Public Reading Room)

A Potted history – Key Dates• 1855 – First Plans, site chosen• 1856 - R. J. Withers, Architect appointed• 1858 – Laying of Foundation Stone• 1860 - Guildhall officially opened on 9th July• 1865 – Rebuilding of ‘College Row’ Chimney Stack• 1871 – Canon installed• 1890’s – School closed• 1892 – Clock Tower added• 1914 – Building put at disposal of the Red Cross (1st World War)• 1950 – Library opened in ‘Corn Exchange’• 1966 – Council Chamber moved out• 1968 – Community Centre (now Radley Room opened)• 1994 – Library relocated• 2006 -2009 – Restoration of the Guildhall by Cardigan Building

Preservation Trust, working in partnership with Menter Aberteifi. (July 2007 granting of 99 year lease by Ceredigion County Council)

• 20011 – Courtyard Restoration

Front Facade Restoration

Corn Exchange Gallery with restored glazing

Front Arches before restoration

Original Corn Exchange Doors

Guildhall Project Funding• Planning & Options Appraisal

WDA/EIN/AHF £25,000

• Capital grants Phases 1-3 Architects: Acanthus Holden, Pembroke(Architects: Acanthus Holden, Pembroke. Contractors : Welsh Heritage Construction )

HLF (Cardigan THI scheme) £737,000WAG ~ CFAP £300,000 Cadw £55,527

Ceredigion County Council £14,688 CAVO £2,940

• Capital Grant Courtyard Phase 2011

Rural Development Project CCC £104,158Cadw £8,400 Cardigan Renewal Area Grant CCC £30,000

• TOTAL Restoration Project £1,277,725

• Revenue Funding Big Lottery, People & Places £180,870

Partnership Circle

Cardigan Building Preservation Trust

Ceredigion County Council

Menter Aberteifi Cyf

Cardigan Town

Council

A busy first year and a half• Nov 2009, Staff appointed to run the Guildhall Management Project

~ Menter Aberteifi moved into the Guildhall in June 2009. • Town Council meetings move back into the Chamber• July 2010 – 150th Guildhall Birthday celebrations• Additional office space rented to the police (town drop in office)

and RSVP officer• Recorded building footfall of over 15,000• 156 community groups & organisations used the new facilities• New activities launched, including dance, talks, art & craft , IT, Tai

Chi, creative writing, performance summer school and some memorable evening concerts.

• Community Gallery booked for 90% of the year• First wedding• Website Launch: www.guildhall-cardigan.co.uk• Funding obtained for Courtyard Restoration

Corn Exchange Gallery

Radley Room

Chamber & Kitchen

Great Hall