Project Detail

The Workmen's Institute, built in 1908 was quite unique in it's time as it was the only miner's institute where the miner's themselves raised the money to build it. The Memorial Hall was added to the building as a commemoration to local men who lost their lives in World War I and it opened in 1924. Latterly the building fell into disrepair and the plight of the Grade II listed 'Newbridge Memo' won national recognition when it was runner-up in the BBC's Restoration TV series in 2004. A longstanding but successful fundraising campaign towards a project budget of £5.3M, given impetus by the TV series, has only recently drawn to a close and works are scheduled to start in early 2012. This application will fund a small discrete element of phase 1 of the project to restore and refurbish the Institute building as a hub of the local community whilst providing a modern fit-for-purpose facility.