Tavistock Guildhall Gateway Centre Project

Descriptions

Tavistock Guildhall and police station, fronting Guildhall Square, are part of an outstanding urban group of medieval and 19th-century Gothic buildings in the centre of Tavistock. The Grade II* Listed building is believed to be England's first purpose-built combined court and police station and includes the former police accommodation block and fire engine house. Designed initially by John Foulston and then by Theophilis Jones for the Duke of Bedford, the complex was completed c1848 and is constructed on the footprint of Tavistock Abbey. The project will bring back into use the iconic Grade II* historic building. The restored building will integrate a range of public services and local community uses with a World Heritage Site Gateway Centre and a Police and Magistrates' Museum. The work will be conservation-driven, aiming to maximise the enjoyment of the building's intrinsic character whilst minimising interruption to the historic fabric. A proportion of the work will be to improve the building's accessibility including the installation of a lift, adjustment to floor levels and and external ramp access. External work includes repairs to chimneys, roof parapets and gutters, lead work, roofing slates, flat roofs, rainwater goods, masonry repairs, new roof lights, windows and door repairs, and demolition of modern fabric. Internal work includes lightweight partitions, ceilings, insulating roofs, office fit-out, new stairs, lift, glazed 'fire station' entrance, interpretation centre fit-out, new electrical, plumbing and ventilation works.