£4.2m revamp of historic hall going ‘well and on time’
A £4.2m project to transform Holyhead’s historic Market Hall is progressing “well and on time”.
Workmen moved on site in January to save what had been described by Cadw as “the most dilapidated civic building in Wales”.
Anglesey Council says the project, which includes a new library and an information and business hub, remains on track for completion next summer.
Rory Moore, director of Kinmel Baybased Grosvenor Construction, who are responsible for much of the restoration, said they are “proud to be working on such an iconic building”.
Designed in 1855 by J Edwards Thomas and commissioned by W O Stanley of Penrhos to meet a growing need for a public venue to sell and trade, it has lain derelict in the heart of the town centre for more than a decade.
Project officer Sion Roberts says the work has so far been progressing well, funded in part by a £2.375m Heritage Lottery grant with further contributions from the Welsh Government’s Viable and Vibrant Places programme.
“The first phase of the project, which is nearing its completion now, is to secure the shell of the building,” he said.
“Then we can move onto phase two, which will see more work on the interior and the dramatic transformation inside, while also staying true to the building’s unique history.”
As part of the restoration, more than 18,000 Penrhyn blue slates are being used, while reinstating the iconic chimney stacks which will assist with the building’s ventilation.
Anglesey’s education, youth, libraries and culture portfolio holder, Cllr Meirion Jones, said: “Considerable progress has been made in the past eight months to remodel the former Market Hall to provide it with a long-term, sustainable future as the town’s new library and enterprise hub.”
As well as hosting the town’s library, which will move from its current spot on Newry Street, the centre will include business units, a cafe and heritage centre.