Work is proposed to save the Grade II listed Newtown Old Town Hall which has suffered significant movement in the last few years.
An application from the National Trust, to the Isle of Wight Council, is seeking to strengthen and stabilise the structure of the historic building through 5 phases of work.
A town hall has existed on the site since the 13th century but the one we see today was mainly built around 1699 from brick and stone with 18th century alterations made to it.
Now the hall is open as a visitor attraction but it used to be an official building for the town when it was represented by 2 Members of Parliament.
After losing its right to have elected members the town hall was left to ruin until it was saved in 1933 by the mysterious Ferguson’s Gang — a group of young women, who wore masks and used fake names, whose aim was to preserve examples of ‘traditional England’.
The building was then given to the National Trust.
More recently the National Trust say the significant movement of the Old Town Hall is largely attributed to the physical nature of the subsoil. It is most evident, it says, in the northeast corner where open cracking is visible internally and externally. There have also been some internal ceiling collapses that require attention.
It says the proposals are considered to cause less than substantial harm to the heritage asset and the public benefit of retaining and stabilising the Old Town Hall in a structurally sound condition outweighs the limited harm.
The 5 phases include anchors drilled into bricks, installing an internal steel brace to prop up the chimney stack and underpinning at the northern end of the building.
The trust hopes the work will ensure future movement is reduced and therefore lessens the risk of further damage, or ultimately collapse, of the important historical property.
You can view the plans, 22/00598/LBC, on the council’s planning register. Comments can be made until 16th May.
A beautiful building which needs to be saved. Yet one can imagine as soon as the builder realises that the NT own it, then like insurance jobs the bill will be thrice at least what it ought to be
Sure they likely get 3 quotes, yet 3 overpriced still equates to paying too much.
Still on the positive side at least with unstable ground the council won’t be building an estate upon it for inner city overspill……Yet
Could your opinion of Wight builders be any lower?
Having had extensive experience of IOW builders over many years, Lady Dun’s assessment is 100% accurate.
The National Trust could use some of the income gained for the high car park charges they impose when you try to visit it.
This very ancient Town Hall is of historical importance, not only as a Meeting Place
but also with Smugglers connections. Please take time to visit it and your entry
fee with help with the essential repair work. Carole Hughes
Totally agree regarding the Town Hall’s historical importance but the National Trust take over £700 Million a year in income.
Many citizens would love to visit these properties but the admission fees are simply too high for many.
May I suggest that you become a member of the National Trust.For the cost of £70 a year you get free parking at their carparks and access to all of the wonderful properties nationwide.
My membership has paid for itself just with the parking at St Helens,Compton Bay and Newtown.
£120 for both myself and husband is about what we struggle to pay for less than one month gas and electric bill.
National Trust membership is way beyond many Isle of Wight residents.
We haven’t visited Newtown for many years as the cost of fuel and then parking charges prohibit it. As for using the possibility of using bus network, well, you need to be fit and a genius just to work out how it would be possible.