TAVISTOCK Heritage Trust has unanimously appointed a new chairman just as work begins on transforming The Guildhall.

At its recent annual meeting, Andrew Main stood down as chairman and retired architect Ian Penrose was voted to take his place.

Funding has been secured from the Heritage Lottery Fund over the next 18 months to transform The Guildhall from its redundant state into an interpretation centre for the town and hinterland featuring the World Heritage mining sites of West Devon and Cornwall.

The Magistrates Court and robing room will remain and will be available for educational and community use when the conservation and restoration work is completed in June 2020

Vice Chairman Ian Wright said: ‘Andrew has led the trust through its important formative first year, leading the new organisation through complex negotiations with West Devon Borough Council for the Visitor Information Centre (VIC) and Tavistock Town Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund for The Guildhall who are jointly funding the project.

‘He has also established good relationships with BID, Tavistock Chamber of Commerce and many other organisations who are now supporting the project. He, with the support of other trustees, has worked to recruit further trustees and volunteers to support the project. During its first year the trust re-opened the Visitor Information Centre in Courtgate in August with a team of over 30 volunteers handling some 1,300 inquiries in its first few six weeks.’

Ian Wright continued: ‘As an architect, Ian Penrose brings the professional knowledge and skills that will be needed during the design and building stages over the next 18 months which will involve a range of conservation building and fit-out specialists.

‘The trust is grateful to both Andrew and Ian for their hard work and commitment in getting both projects off the ground and establishing the trust as an ambitious organisation with a passion to bring Tavistock’s heritage to life and to act as a Gateway to the World Heritage Mining Sites.’

If you wish to join the trust as a volunteer, visit www.heritageintavistock.org