Supporting local preservation initiatives
Stroud Preservation Trust has also been involved with many other historic buildings, commissioning ten feasibility studies for potential Trust projects and carrying out eight further investigations. Some studies revealed that the Trust could not proceed with a project for financial reasons, others have been carried out to demonstrate the importance of a building. The Trust’s study on the Old Town Hall made a case for the building’s renovation needs when Stroud District Council moved to Ebley Mill, and all recommendations were subsequently implemented. The Trust has supported owners and users of historic buildings in various ways and will always share findings with new owners to support good work on previously neglected buildings. In 1996, the parishioners of St Alban’s Church, Stroud asked the Trust to represent them at a Church Consistory Court regarding internal changes and won their case. Finally, the Trust has worked with other organisations for improvements in Stroud’s environment. Trustees helped with the setting up and management of the Stroud Valleys Project and were active in the Community Planning Conference, 1994-5. See also our LINKS page for other sources of information regarding historic buildings. |
Projects Timeline2022
CHAPELS OF REST Feasibility Study Published This feasibility report was prepared for us by distinguished historic building consultants Doug Insall Associates to enable the Trust to accurately examine future possibilities for the Chapels. We are sharing the report with its owners, Stroud District Council. Once the members of their Strategy and Resources committee have discussed the report we will examine the various possible outcomes and plan a mutual way forward to benefit both the near and longer term future of the buildings. During the summer months of 2022 the Trust will continue to look for good new uses for the buildings. We hope that we can open the buildings to the public for a short period in the summer and autumn as a gallery for local artists. 2020 CHAPELS OF REST After some months of waiting for a decision from Stroud District Council because of COVID19, the Chapels of Rest, in early October, became a real project to develop and the main focus for the Trustees work from now on. 2019 CHAPELS OF REST These lovely buildings became the focus of our work in 2019 as we agreed that we would take on the Chapels project. We did costings analysis, some services research, sales documents etc and held three community meetings. By December we had set out a letter of proposal to Stroud District Council for a community asset transfer. The motion was to go to the committee in late March 2020. LEASE SALES One further lease was finalised after nearly two years of negotiation. SPT now owns 7 freeholds and these are unlikely to be sold on. GLOUCESTERSHIRE ORCHARD TRUST A small potential fish house project was visited and discussed over the year. It is close to the river Severn and several have been found along the banks of the river. It was decided not to go ahead with the project as there was no clear end use for he building. 2018 LOCAL LISTING PROJECT Finally signed off and displayed on the Stroud Town Council website. STROUD SUBSCRIPTION ROOMS Stroud Town Council were confirmed to have the Sub Rooms as a community asset transfer from the District Council. SPT granted nearly £10,000 to pay for the heritage statement, building cost analysis, services feasibility study and the statutory listed building application. This is such a central grade 2 building for our town that it was important to support the tireless work of the Town Council to aquire it for the community. CHAPELS OF REST SPT helped the Town Council secure a feasibility grant from the Architectural Heritage Fund. However the conservation deficit was too great for the Council to take on the challenge of the Chapels which are in the Town Council owned cemetery. 2017 LOCAL LISTING PROJECT 45 buildings and quirky street furniture were selected by an experts’ panel in March 2017. Through the year all 45 were written up and photographed and put out to community consultation. LEASE SALES Lease sales continue in the year. Gradually all lease holders of SPT properties are buying their freehold leases. This makes their future sale transactions easier and means that SPT is not tied to 999 year leases and having to claim the ground rent on an annual basis. BUILDING ADVICE Trustees have been working with various owners of buildings that seem to be at risk – FROMEHALL MILL and THE OLD CONVENT as well as helping with advice on The Woolstore roof (near Lodgemore Mill) and Glendower in Watledge being worked on by local volunteers. STROUD TOWN COUNCIL PROJECTS Trustees have been closely involved in projects that look to develop the station concourse area, Lansdown Hall improvements and the Subscription Rooms. 2016 CHAPELS OF REST Raising funds from the Architectural Heritage Fund to support Stroud Town Council determine whether or not to take on the Chapel of Rest in the Old Cemetery at the top of Bisley Road. LOCAL LISTING PROJECT 100 initial nominations for buildings to form part of a Local Heritage Asset List for Stroud town centre. NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN Final stages and eventually in August a Town Referendum voted in the NDP which was finally ratified by the District council in October. Stroud Town Council now have a template for development to work on over the next 20 years. 2015 THE MEDIEVAL HALL SPT had to intervene in a planning application that suggested the enclosure of the ‘garden’ of the Medieval Hall. This open space is much prized by Stroudies but it had become a place of drinking and rowdiness. A multi agency approach meant that a camera was installed and the ‘garden’ area, part of the footprint of the building, has remained open for public use. NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN WORK CONTINUES Throughout the year consultation and events and draft writing continued. Photography and layout became important. 2014 NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN LAUNCHED Stroud Town Council’s Neighbourhood Development Plan involving five of SPT’s trustees in planning, community consultation, devising a Local List process, photography and design and events management. The start of two years work. BRUNEL GOODS SHED November 18th saw the lease assigned from SPT to Stroud Valleys Artspace. We wish them well with the building and with their innovative programme. STROUDWATER TEXTILE TRUST Initial advice plus some financial support for Stroudwater Textile trust’s exciting potential for a textile centre at Longfords Mill CHEAPSIDE OPPORTUNITIES REPORT Written by Hugh Barton, an SPT trustee this has initiated Stroud Town Council committing to the Stroud Town Centre Neighbourhood Plan. 2013 SPT’s FIRST MAJOR BOOK Stroud – A Town Changed by Community Action was published. Researched and written by volunteers the book acknowledges the activism in Stroud that initially started the Preservation Trust and continued projects since those early days at the end of the 1970’s. (link with how to buy?) SPT’s NEW WEBSITE Launched in July bringing together archival material and the story of SPT. 2012 SPT is 30 Major exhibition, brochure of our 30 years’ work and commissioned video installation in seven shops in the High Street. BRUNEL GOODS SHED Major repairs and renovations ensures that the Goods Shed comes off the Buildings at Risk list for the first time for 24 years. 2011 LANSDOWN HALL AND GALLERY, Stroud Strategy Work on Fundraising for Stroud Town Council Brunel Goods Shed Shortlisted for the English Heritage Angel Awards 2010 GLENDOWER, Nailsworth Advisory Role to Friends of Glendower 2006 BRUNEL 200 FESTIVAL Members Brunel 200 Programme highlighting Goods Shed 1997 15 HIGH STREET, Stroud (Smith & Lee) Feasibility Study - Funds unavailable for SPT project LONGFORDS MILL, Nailsworth 1997- 8 Report on Alternative Design Approach 1996 ST ALBANS CHURCH, Bisley Old Road, Stroud Represented parishioners at Consistory Church Court THE COLUMN MONUMENT, Selsley Advisory Role 1995 OLD ORCHARD & PEER OFFICES, Bowbridge Feasibility Study STROUD COMMUNITY PLANNING CONFERENCE 95-97 Member of initiative to regenerate Stroud Town Centre 1994 THE GRANGE, Nailsworth Advisory Role 1993 ST MARY’S MILL, Chalford Investigation/Advice for17th century mill 1991 BOURNE MILL, Brimscombe Feasibility Study - Funds unavailable for SPT project 1990 WALCOURT HOUSE, Nelson Street, Stroud Feasibility Study - Funds unavailable for SPT project 1989 WOODCHESTER MANSION TRUST, Stroud Support setting up trust, funds for Feasibility Study. 23 HIGH STREET, Stroud (now Stroud Bookshop) Investigation and Study. FARLEYS END BARN, Elmore Advisory Role to the owner ST LAURENCE CHURCH, Stroud 50% of cost of renovation of carillion of bells DUDBRIDGE ORNAMENTAL MILL Investigation and Study NAILSWORTH RAILWAY STATION, Nailsworth Investigation and Study - Funds unavailable for SPT project 1988 FOUNDER MEMBER of Stroud Valleys Project OLD TOWN HALL, Stroud Feasibility Study prepared for Stroud District Council 1987 WEAVERS HOUSE, Dursley Advisory Role to Dursley Town Council 253 WESTWOOD ROAD, Ebley, Stroud The METHODIST CHAPEL, Castle Street, Stroud ‘THE COURT HOUSE’ at Court Farm, Kings Stanley 1986 CASTLE STREET METHODIST CHAPEL, Stroud Feasibility Study - Funds unavailable for SPT project 1982 FERRIS COURT FARMHOUSE, 82-92 Action with the Civic Society to prevent demolition |
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