Stroud’s historic Old Town Hall is set for an exciting new chapter after Stroud District Council’s Strategy and Resources Committee approved plans to transfer the landmark building to Stroud Valleys Artspace (SVA) for a nominal sum.
The decision paves the way for SVA and Stroudwater Textile Trust (STT) to develop a Centre for Textile Arts in the heart of Stroud, creating a permanent home for the Trust and a major new cultural destination celebrating the district’s rich textile heritage.
Bringing together two organisations with a strong track record of managing historic buildings and delivering community-focused arts and cultural projects, the partnership aims to create “an artist-led creative space where contemporary textile and creative practice can flourish alongside displays and activities amplifying the story of the region’s textile heritage”.
The Old Town Hall is one of Stroud’s most recognisable buildings. Located in the historic Shambles in the centre of town, the Grade II* listed property includes elements dating back to 1596 and has played an important role in the town’s history for more than four centuries.
The Centre for Textile Arts would help secure a sustainable future for the building while opening it up for wider community use. It would create a vibrant centre for arts, culture and learning, celebrating the textile heritage of Stroud’s famous woollen mills, while drawing visitors into the heart of the town.
Cllr Chloe Turner, Leader of Stroud District Council, said: “The Old Town Hall is one of Stroud’s most treasured historic buildings, and we are delighted to have found a proposal that both protects its future and strengthens its role within the community.
“This project supports one of the key priorities in our Cultural Strategy and Action Plan by helping to break down barriers to culture and provide more equitable access to arts, heritage and creative opportunities across the district.
“The vision put forward by Stroud Valleys Artspace and Stroudwater Textile Trust will preserve an important heritage asset while creating new opportunities for learning, creativity, participation and economic activity. We look forward to seeing the building brought to life in new ways for residents and visitors alike.”
Trevor Ford, Chair of Stroudwater Textile Trust, said: “Laurie Lee, author and poet, said of Stroud’s Five Valleys, ‘There’s nowhere else like it on earth’. Stroud’s fame was international, its fine woollen cloth exported and traded across the world. Our scarlet cloth was prized throughout Europe, North America and Scandinavia, and even in India and China, where the Chinese Emperor was proud to be robed in Stroud cloth.
We are enormously grateful to Stroud District Council for giving us a home where we shall be able to celebrate Stroud’s amazing textile history.”
David Elford, Stroud Valleys Artspace Trustee and Project Manager, said: “Stroud District Council’s support for this exciting venture highlights the enduring significance of textiles to Stroud and the surrounding valleys. Textiles constitute a universal and creative language, with the power to engage and inspire people of all ages. In partnership with the Stroudwater Textile Trust, Stroud Valleys Artspace looks forward to establishing a venue of regional significance – one that champions the work of textile designers and makers, brings their practice to a wider audience, and offers an exciting and inclusive programme for the whole community.”
For Stroudwater Textile Trust, the transfer represents the culmination of a long-standing ambition to establish a permanent base for its collections and activities. The organisation has been seeking a suitable home for around 20 years.
Both partners bring considerable experience to the project. STT has successfully developed and managed projects at Dunkirk Mill Museum and the Gigg Mill Weaving Shed, while SVA has established thriving creative communities at its John Street and Goods Shed venues through a model that combines artists’ studios with community activities and events.
The council recently supported SVA’s acquisition of the freehold of the listed Goods Shed in Stroud, helping to secure the building for community and creative use while strengthening the organisation’s ability to attract external funding.
As part of the agreed arrangements, the meeting room at the Old Town Hall will continue to be available for hire and will remain an important source of income for the building. The council will also retain storage space for market equipment used in the operation of the Shambles Market.
To support the building’s long-term sustainability, the council will fund the replacement of the existing central heating system.
The transfer supports the council’s ambitions to protect important heritage assets, encourage community-led development and increase access to arts and culture across the district.