The Malmesbury Town Hall is not one single building, but is a complex of five buildings, the oldest, it is thought, dating from the 18th Century. The newest part of the complex is the middle addition which was built in the 1970’s to house the lift, toilets and kitchen.
The oldest section is the two-storey building which lies along Market Lane and which houses the Tourist Information Centre and the Council Chamber. It was once an L-shaped malt-house, partly fronting the Cross Hayes and partly fronting Market Lane. In 1926/27 the part fronting Cross Hayes was bought by the Borough Council and demolished to make way for the building which now stands on the corner of Market Lane and Cross Hayes. The part along Market Lane was then taken over by the YMCA and used as offices.
The north west corner of the complex, on the corner of Market Lane and Oxford Street, is occupied by the Wesleyan Chapel, built in 1886 and now housing the Market Room on the ground floor and the Oxford Room on the first floor.
The main Town Hall Building was originally built as a Market House in 1846/7 and occupies the eastern two thirds of the Cross Hayes frontage. It has been very substantially remodelled over the years and now houses the Athelstan Museum on the ground floor and the Hobbes Room on the first floor.
In 1970 the Borough Council bought the Wesleyan Chapel and the remaining part of the old malt-house to incorporate both into the Town Hall complex. A new service block was built in the centre to join the elements together.
How will the Project go ahead?
This is a large and expensive undertaking, and because of this the renovation project is to be progressed in two phases with Phase 1 beginning in September 2007, and Phase 2 when the outstanding funds have been raised. (See Phasing Plans)
The Project Board and the Town Council are actively involved in raising the approximately £1.5 million required to complete the project, with £800 000.00 in the pot already for Phase 1. Keep an eye on the news page to see our fund-raising progress.
What are the Objectives of this Renovation?
The slow agglomeration of the various buildings in the Town Hall Complex has resulted in a building which is difficult to get around in and is not compliant with the current building regulations.
The objectives, therefore, for the renovation, restoration and extension of the Malmesbury Town Hall can be summarised as follows:
1. COMPLY WITH BUILDING REGULATIONS AND DISABILITY DESCRIMINATION ACT
2. ENCOURAGE WIDER COMMUNITY USE
3. INCORPORATE INCOME PRODUCING USES FOR FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
4. CREATE AN INVITING AND ATTRACTIVE ENVIRONMENT
5. RESOLVE VERTICAL CIRCULATION (LIFTS AND STAIRS)
6. RESOLVE MEANS OF ESCAPE
7. INCORPORATE ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE DESIGN WHERE PRACTICABLE
1. COMPLY WITH BUILDING REGULATIONS AND DDA
At present, the buildings comprise five elements constructed as separate buildings that were later linked to each other by forming openings in party walls. As each of the buildings was built as a self-contained unit, floor levels and ceiling heights differ from one to the other. Current Building Regulations and the Disability Discrimination Act require buildings which are for public use to be made accessible to persons with physical disabilities. As a result, some significant alterations to the layout and fabric of the buildings are necessary. Wherever possible, floor levels will be adjusted to provide level access.
The 1970’s lift is to be removed and a new one installed within the existing lift shaft. None of the existing staircases comply with access legislation and will be removed and replaced as part of the renovation process.
2. ENCOURAGE WIDER COMMUNITY USE
The introduction of level floors and easier vertical circulation coupled with a more attractive environment and a wide ranging programme of events will encourage wider community use of the Town Hall. A great deal of consultation with existing user groups has been carried out to establish their requirements and these have, wherever possible, been incorporated into the development proposals.
3. INCORPORATE INCOME PRODUCING USES FOR FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
The Town Hall is a large building which is expensive for a relatively small community to maintain. It has, therefore, been decided to incorporate some income producing uses into some of the ground floor spaces to provide rental income which will help offset the cost of running the building. One of the spaces will be used as a café which will encourage activity during the daytime and, in conjunction with the first floor kitchen, will also provide the catering facilities for the main public rooms.
The existing toilets, constructed in the 1970’s are unsightly and do not provide facilities of a standard which is acceptable today. These toilets will be replaced with a new services block in the car park at the rear of the building. The space released by the relocation of the toilets will become an exhibition area and will be available for rental.
4. CREATE AN INVITING AND ATTRACTIVE ENVIRONMENT
Ground Floor <Download plan>
First Floor <Download plan>
Second Floor <Download plan>
Generally the spaces will be opened up to bring in light and air, making the building more inviting and much easier to find one’s way around in.
5. RESOLVE VERTICAL CIRCULATION
A new, compliant main stair will give easy access to the first floor from a large ground floor foyer. The new lift will provide access to comply with the DDA.
6. RESOLVE MEANS OF ESCAPE
Fire exits from the existing building do not comply with the Building Regulations both in terms of their widths, their locations within the building and that in some cases they do not discharge into open air.
7. INCORPORATE ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE DESIGN WHERE PRACTICABLE
Budgetary constraints allow only limited incorporation of environmentally sustainable design solutions and will be further investigated for viability through grants later in the development stage. Possible solutions are harvesting rainwater for use in toilets and washbasins, solar water heating panels concealed at roof level, installation of a more efficient heating system, the use of energy efficient lighting and the possible improvement of insulation to the existing building fabric.
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