Weymouth's Old Town Hall reopens with a bang (From Dorset Echo)
When news happens get involved. Send your pictures, views and video to us by text and email
Weymouth's Old Town Hall reopens with a bang
10:09am Tuesday 15th September 2009 in News By James Tourgout
Mayor Ann Kenwood with members of the pike and shot society Simon, Phael and Griffin Pimlett with Dave Allan, front
MUSKET-FIRE and music heralded the re-opening of the historic Old Town Hall in Weymouth.
Chapelhay Community Partnership (CCP) held an event to mark it becoming the new custodian of the building in High West Street.
There was a history exhibition in the main hall and an art exhibition in the newly-named Crabchurch Room downstairs.
There was also music, face-painting, dance, food, drink and a re-enactment troop of Royalist soldiers who fired muskets every hour.
Town hall operations director Martin Hedley said: “It was awesome. People were going through and saying they had never seen anything like it.
“We had between 600 and 800 people on the day.”
The Old Town Hall, near the Boot pub on the harbourside, was the scene of a battle in the Civil War and the centre of the so-called Crabchurch Conspiracy about a Royalist night attack.
Dorchester town crier Alistair Chisholm told part of the story of the battle, with musket-fire and sound effects, to bring the day to a close.
The town hall – with its history display and art show, including works by David Arnold – is open until tomorrow night.
Mr Hedley said: “Music throughout the day was fantastic. Ken Watkins closed the event. We had fantastic support from everyone, including the council, police and A1 builders who provided the electricity.”
Pike and Shot Tour Events provided the re-enactment troop, while Debby Rose staged the history display in the Old Town Hall.
The launch was held after the band, the Dolman, played at the Old Rooms pub on Saturday night to mark the release of their new CD, the Crabchurch Conspiracy.
Now the CCP is looking forward to the refurbishment of the hall by spring 2010 to turn it into a heritage and arts centre.
Mr Hedley said: “We are excited about getting on with the refurbishment and working with the council’s conservation officer Colin Ellis.
“The original estimate of the cost was £140,000 but, thanks to skilled craftsmen volunteering their support, the cost has come down to £40,000.”
The CCP will be applying for grants and sponsorship as well as holding fundraising events.
It hopes to turn the Old Town Hall into a haunted house for Hallowe’en but also let it out for hire until work starts.
