Cardigan Guildhall Restoration A community asset partnership Cardigan Building Preservation Trust Feb 2011

Guildhall Exterior 2010

Cardigan Guildhall 2010 Cardigan Town Hall and Market as envisaged in The Building News, September 1859 The earliest known photograph of the Guildhall (late 1860s -1870?)

Now and Then 1860 Ground Floor Radley Room Free Grammar School Kitchen Divinity Library Menter Offices Corn Store Upper Floor Great Hall Assembly Room Chamber Council Meeting Room Mechanics Institute (Public Reading Room)

A Potted history – Key Dates 1855 – First Plans, site chosen R. J. Withers, Architect appointed 1858 – Laying of Foundation Stone Guildhall officially opened on 9 th July 1865 – Rebuilding of College Row Chimney Stack 1871 – Canon installed 1890s – School closed 1892 – Clock Tower added 1914 – Building put at disposal of the Red Cross (1 st World War) 1950 – Library opened in Corn Exchange 1966 – Council Chamber moved out 1968 – Community Centre (now Radley Room opened) 1994 – Library relocated – 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) – 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)£737,000 WAG ~ CFAP £300,000 Cadw £55,527 Ceredigion County Council £14,688 CAVO £2,940 Capital Grant Courtyard Phase 2011 Rural Development Project CCC £104,158 Cadw £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

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 Town Council meetings move back into the Chamber July 2010 – 150 th Guildhall Birthday celebrations Additional office space rented to the police (town drop in office) and RSVP officer Recorded building footfall of over 15, 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: Funding obtained for Courtyard Restoration

Corn Exchange Gallery

Radley Room

Chamber & Kitchen

Great Hall