A GRANT of £817,800 has been awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) towards a million-pound project to protect and develop Tavistock’s iconic guildhall complex.

The ambitious £1.645-million scheme, which is being led by the town council, in partnership with Tavistock Heritage Trust (THT), has received support from organisations throughout the town and beyond — and will provide a gateway centre for the Cornwall and West Devon Mining World Heritage Site with the facility for a ‘one stop shop’ for council services.

HLF previously awarded a development grant of £48,700 to help the council progress the plans and the balance of funds, required to deliver the overall project, will be met by the council.

Tavistock town mayor Councillor Philip Sanders said: ‘I am absolutely delighted that after several years of immensely hard work by a small but dedicated group of people the joint application to the Heritage Lottery Fund by Tavistock Town Council and Tavistock Heritage Trust for National Lottery funding has been successful.

‘The award will allow us to renovate and bring the town’s guildhall and adjoining buildings — Trowtes House and the old police station — back into use. These buildings form a vital part of the centre of our beautiful and interesting town and it has been so sad to see them lying empty and slowly decaying over many years.

‘The buildings are all listed and form part of the history of Tavistock and its vital role in mining.

‘The grant will enable us to develop a mining heritage centre and the buildings will form the Devon gateway to the World Heritage site.

‘The buildings will also provide facilities for a wide range of community uses and will incorporate a visitor information point which will benefit the many tourists who visit our lovely town every year.’

Tavistock Guildhall and Police Station were England’s first purpose built buildings for administering justice. The guildhall has been unused since 2000 and the police station subsequently relocated to new premises at Abbey Rise five years ago. The town council acquired the buildings, which are Grade II* listed and has been working with HLF, THT and other partners to bring the buildings back into use.

The funding from the National Lottery will enable the community to improve the historic buildings, to stimulate economic regeneration for the benefit of local residents and visitors and restore an important building complex to public use.

Chairman of THT Andrew Main said: ‘The trust welcomes the successful conclusion to the bid application to restore such key buildings in the town centre. We look forward to working to open the visitor information point shortly and the gateway centre in due course. ‘Our work really starts now and we will be looking for volunteers for both projects to promote Tavistock as the key gateway to the mining heritage of the South West.’

Nerys Watts, Head of HLF South West, said: ‘National Lottery investment goes well beyond bricks and mortar, it also provides opportunities for communities, boosts local economies and gives people access to their heritage.

‘We’re delighted to support this project which will bring some of Tavistock’s historic buildings back in to public use and create a gateway to the history and stories of the South West.’

For more details about the proposal visit www.tavistock.gov.uk