Major milestone reached in town hall regeneration scheme
A major milestone has been reached in the redevelopment of the historic Trowbridge Town Hall.
The installation of the new roof is now underway following the removal of the existing battens and roof tile
Construction firm Beard has installed temporary weatherproofing to avoid any water ingress during preliminary works.
Roof works are set to continue over the coming months, along with the installation of a temporary bus shelter at the temporary bus stop in Silver Street.
Meanwhile, internal demolition has been ongoing and is nearing completion. Beard has knocked down the existing offices and internal walls, lift shaft and staircase to fully open up The Great Hall, while the removal of the suspended ceiling has revealed the original king roof trusses and vaulted ceiling.
In addition to removing the old cells and blockwork walls found in the basement, specialist stonemasons have begun the critical restoration and repairs to preserve the external stonework.
Beard remains on track to complete the multi-million-pound transformation in the summer of 2025. Once completed, the historic Grade II listed building will serve as a cultural and creative hub for the local community and an eye-catching live music venue.
Jamie Harwood, director at Beard, said: “Work has been progressing very well at Trowbridge Town Hall and we thank the council, the local residents and all stakeholders for their patience and continued support. As we embark on this significant next step in the project timeline, we are working very hard to minimise disruption and keep everybody safe. Protecting this important building also remains a priority too.
“All parties can rest assured that the work being undertaken is many months in the making, with extensive planning, preparation and stakeholder engagement. This is built on our decades of experience in completing complex renovation and restoration projects, including high-profile listed buildings across the region and further afield. We look forward to sharing more progress very soon.”
Phil Alford, Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for strategic assets, added: “We are very pleased with the progress being made and the care and attention being taken to protect the historic features during the works. Now that the Great Hall is fully opened up, it looks amazing and together with the roof works to improve acoustics it will make this a fantastic space for live music events in the future.
“One of our key aims is making sure our towns are resilient, ensuring our communities are able to grow sustainably with access to leisure, arts, heritage and culture. It’s great to see the Town Hall shaping up to be once again the landmark cultural venue in the centre of Trowbridge.”
Trowbridge Town Hall marks the latest project in the partnership between Beard and Wiltshire Council, which also includes the Grade II listed Corsham Mansion. In addition, the family-owned construction company has also worked on the Grade II listed Mill Building at Trowbridge Museum, as well as the award-winning Corinium Museum in Cirencester, among others.
