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A real buzz at Stute's win
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TRUSTEES at Newbridge Memorial Hall and Institute believe it can go all the way and win BBC's Restoration series after it won the Welsh heat on Sunday night.
The Edwardian building defeated Llanfyllin Union workhouse and Cardigan Castle in the contest, winning 44% of the votes.
But it has been revealed that Cardigan Castle could also progress to the final in August as the runner-up with the most votes, because the Welsh heat was the most popular draw so far.
The phone poll drew one of Restoration's largest responses, with more than 100,000 votes registered after last Tuesday's programme.
Alan Stone, chairman at the Newbridge "Memo and Stute," said he hoped that enthusiasm would continue right through to the final, when the buildings will be up against the other seven winners from around Britain.
"I feel great this morning, and there is a real buzz about town," he said.
"Even people who were perhaps a bit cynical about our chances have realised that we could go all the way. They have been stopping me in the street and offering congratulations."
He said the two buildings, with their sprung dance hall and art deco cinema, had "an excellent chance" of winning the Restoration grant outright.
Last year, Victoria Baths in Manchester won the competition, a building which, like the Memorial Hall and Institute, could still be enjoyed by the community.
"It is the only building so far in the competition that has strong community spirit behind it, and it gathered the highest vote in the competition so far," said Mr Stone.
"If people think in the same vein as last year we should do well."
It is already facing the challenges of an Archbishop's Palace in south-east England and a wool mill in Scotland, but Mr Stone said he hoped the whole of Britain would see the potential of the Newbridge entry.
"It is not about being Welsh as such because many of the miners who helped build this building were immigrants.
"It is about how that strong working class bond was formed and the camaraderie that communities enjoyed and can still enjoy."
Trustee Helen Whitney said it would cost around £3m to fix up the buildings.
"We want to restore the cinema, and the dance hall, which is one of the best in Wales," she said.
The Lottery Heritage Fund has already contributed £2.5m to the prize pot and more money will be generated from voters phoning the hotlines.
Mrs Whitney said the building was full of excitement when they received the message that they had won on a video tape on Sunday.
"The man on the tape announced the winner and all I heard was 'Newb...' before people were screaming.
"We only started campaigning to save the building last year so it is all a bit sudden. But we will be campaigning even harder over the next couple of weeks."
Jeff Pride, project director of Welsh heritage group Herian, said it was great news for the heritage of industrial South Wales.
"It puts a welcome spotlight on the fascinating story that this region can tell about the role it's had in shaping the world we know today," he said.
"Herian works to interpret and celebrate the cultural heritage of industrial South Wales to help strengthen communities and contribute to the economy by encouraging visitors and local people to look and learn.
"Being able to restore Newbridge Memorial Hall and Institute fully would be a massive contribution to this task."
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The Western Mail
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Tuesday, July 27, 2004 |
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