Page 2 - link magazine

2 The Link Magazine • January 2003
Link pic puts people first
e 'uu 31uu A photograph of peo-
!:' L Coif,, ...
ple trying to save Swin- ... • ANNUAL REVIEW 2001-02
18`" (Centurp 'Village 31ni don's derelict Mechan-
,n and the biographer ofchadnrrc
& i etaurant ics' Institute, which ap- ,ri. anJ m:mc (nmrwslrervs fi b res,il The New M echanics' In ut itution
Pr
peared in The Link in 'urinal crusted the Icons, 'u se eservation Trust
Ipbiarb ¢+tf{Cicent . n Manchester M hh Lin the The New Mechanics'

2001, has been repro- hr^ 1960 5 provide 1 nnn and Institution
(01793) 770425 duced in the annual re- rrt fist oruirse,. students, bus it is E^Wrm Squnto, Rnsiuuv Village, S,v, do f P:
s J of Wiltshire
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view of historic build- Soc ^ I -t n I rh. The Truss i dc„d, rt^cqu, tu no .1 r„
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email: [email protected] vork mg ,. uh English f icrirage to find 2
.
ing regeneration by the rnva ni after an .application so the FOG: 07,500 dishurwd A 4 -9 1996
PAG: 14, 9% altered Augnt; 2000. dnshntsea aIL^ ror^sw^^''
O Extensive and prestigious Architec- age Loners Fund was turned d_,. ,uy 200,
varied menu. tural Heritage Fund. RPOG: 015,000 offered SeWember 2001
......_,•tRC3 an11ft cc .._.,
O Australia Day r► a The fund supports community- that any viable
celebration led regeneration and revival of his- commercial use is unlikely.
26 th January, with toric buildings at risk. The review With the incentive of major fi-
special menu. describes the twenty five projects nancial support from English Her- across Britain in the review, the
O Large beer garder completed by voluntary organisa- itage, the council has finally agreed 'Still Standing for Swindon' pic-
tions in 2000-01 and more than 150 to carry out emergency protection ture is the only one showing peo-
O Functions/
projects under development. work on the privately owned build- ple of all ages campaigning to pre-
parties catered for.
The New Mechanics' Institute ing, and take part in discussion serve the heritage of their town,.
O Warm & relaxing Preservation Trust has received a about its longer term future, in- "The people of Swindon want
atmosphere. series of grants to pay for a feasi- cluding compulsory purchase. the Mechanics' Institute to be saved
O Regular themed evenings. bility study into the possible uses Trust spokesperson Martha so that it can be returned to being
O Friendly and welcoming for the Grade II I listed building, Parry said the Architectural Herit- 'a great community place' with
administration costs, and also the age Fund recognised the value of something for everybody, whether
staff.
cost of professional design work the Mechanics' Institute soon after old Swindonians, or those new to
O Food served lunch & dinner.
to show how the building can be the Preservation Trust was set up the town. After seven years the
O Bookings advisable.
modified and brought back into and had supported the volunteers trust is finally being heard."
O Real a'es & fine wines. use. in their vision to restore the build- In March the Trust expects to
Opening Hours The trust has campaigned for ing as a feature of Swindon's cul- submit an application to the Herit-
Mon-Fri: 11.30am - 3pm the last seven years to convince tural life, as it had been in the 19th age Lottery Fund for £10 million to
&5pm-11pm Swindon Council that the Mechan- and early 20th Century. fully restore the building.
Sat: 11.30am - 3pm ics' has a viable use as a commu- She said she was pleased The It only costs £1 to join the New
& 6pm - 11 pm nity, cultural and leisure centre. It Link photo had been chosen to il- Mechanics' Institute Preservation
Sun: 12pm - 4pm was responsible for persuading lustrate the Trust's entry in the Trust. Send a letter to Suite 12,
& 6pm -1 0.30pm English Heritage to upgrade the review. "Of all the photos of der- Newburn Centre, Newburn Cres-
listed building status which means elict buildings in need of rescue cent, Swindon SN1 5ES.