Completed Projects | Medieval Hall | Withey's Yard | Cainscross Toll House | Arundel Mill House | Anti-Slavery Arch | Brunel Goods Shed Phase 1 | Brunel Goods Shed Phase 2 | HLF Community Action | SWAPT Heritage Fair | Plaques
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32 -34 High Street was part of a row of six shops which had been compulsorily purchased by the County Council to make way for a proposed ring road. Empty since 1968, 32-34 High Street was listed in 1974 and singled out by the Planning Inspector at the subsequent ring road Public Inquiry as containing the oldest structural features in the town. In 1980, the buildings were again threatened with demolition because of a revised road building scheme. The Trust's founders established that, behind its Georgian facade, 33 High Street was an extremely rare survival, an urban medieval hall. Eventually the County Council agreed to sell the freehold of numbers 32-34 to the newly formed Stroud Preservation Trust for £1, while the conservationists agreed not to oppose the demolition of other buildings to make way for the new link road, now known as Cornhill. This was a challenging conservation project involving a dilapidated, complex and much altered structure. The architect Richard Feilden, of Feilden Clegg Design Partnership, Bath, proved sympathetic to this idiosyncratic project, commenting that it was necessary “to work with the building rather than impose upon it.” The works team were long term unemployed, their labour paid for by a government agency, the Manpower Services Commission, with some work being done by specialist contractors. By September 1982, after 18 months, 32-34 High Street was transformed into a handsome and distinctive building with three shops, two office units and a pleasant courtyard area. The Trust worked indefatigably to raise funds to give the buildings new life and had the satisfaction of seeing local doubts change to enthusiasm as the project took shape. |