VIP VISIT PROVIDES HOPE FOR FUTURE
Our renovation project at Temperance Hall in Haverfordwest was visited by the Member of Parliament for MP for Mid and South Pembrokeshire, Henry Tufnell MP, last Friday 7 November. Henry met with the team to discuss the project and to better understand the role that Haverfordwest Heritage can play in the town’s regeneration.
Henry Tufnell MP (centre) stands with vice-chair Phillip Evitt (left) and CEO Stuart Berry (right) outside Temperance Hall’s beautiful new mural.
Henry got an exclusive tour of the building, which is currently in its second phase of renovations. The first phase saw the exterior overhauled, with repairs to roof and gutters, and to windows and render, and finished with stunning new paint work that includes the mural which adorns the side of the building. The current second phase is looking to overhaul the internal structure of the building, adding strength to floors and providing new circulation spaces, in order to ensure that the completed building will be fit for purpose as a community printworks. We are in the process now of fundraising for the third phase which we hope will complete the building, adding water, light and heat as well as finishing spaces and making them habitable. We are currently aiming to open toward the end of 2026.
In addition to getting an exclusive look inside, we also discussed potential sources of funding for our project, and talked about town centre regeneration. Temperance Hall was one of a number of key buildings in the town which had stood empty and unused for a number of years, without our work this building would have deteriorated further by now. This building has a bright future, and we hope that we can work in partnership with other stakeholders to look at how we might help to transform other unused heritage buildings in the same way.
This visit, followed visits earlier in summer from National Lottery Heritage Fund, Cadw and Architectural Heritage Fund, and a separate visit by the team which manages the Shared Prosperity Fund for Pembrokeshire County Council.