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Community News
Inside the Locarno - how much work is needed to restore the historic landmark?
Project director Steve Rosier in the central area beneath the clocktower
The Locarno jungle - a sea of overgrown vegetation
4 swindonlink.com n October 2016
SE October 2016 Master Pages2.indd 4 16/09/2016
As reported in last month’s edition hosting public meetings and the
of The Link, proposals have come magistrates court. Just a few years
forward for the renovation of Old later, a bigger, grander building
Town’s historic Locarno building was needed, and the current
and its surrounding area. design, with its 80 foot Italianate
Our cameras were allowed an clock tower, elegant arcades and
exclusive look inside the ruins of a fountain under a glass dome,
the building with The Exchange opened in 1866, something the
Swindon project director Steve developers are keen to replicate in
Rosier to show just how much work the near future.
needs doing to bring this impressive After being used as a dance hall,
old building back into regular use. corn exchange, storage of wine
Steve said: “Full structural surveys in the cellars for banquets and
have been carried out every two grand bazaars, and entertainment
years since the fire in 2004. of all sorts, the building has lay in
“The characterful stone walls disrepair since 1984.
are structurally stable but have The designs for a revamped Corn
weathered considerably in the Exchange have been created by
period. award winning architects FCB
“There is quite an expense in Studios and feature a glass roof
restoring the stone walls and over the old Locarno ballroom,
features but it’s possible and worth which will be surrounded by
it.” restaurants, cafés, bars, bistros,
As you can see from the images, boutique cinema and niche retail
the internal structure of the shops.
Locarno building, which was hit by Steve added: “Market Square will
arson attacks in 2004, is in a sorry assume its historic purpose as a
state, with graffiti and vegetation public square, not a car park, with
clinging to the once impressive a beautiful new piazza. The clock
structure. tower and façade will be restored,
Built in 1852, the first Corn entertainment will be encouraged,
Exchange served as a corn store as would a sustainable street
and market, with offices above. It market.”
became Swindon’s first Town Hall, www.theexchangeswindon.co.uk
15:15