Historic Dorchester building to undergo estimated £700,000 refurbishment
Dorchester’s Corn Exchange building is set to be re-modelled with a café, bar and community space.
Dorchester’s Corn Exchange building is set to be re-modelled with a café, bar and community space.
Work will begin in the summer of 2024 and is estimated to cost between £700,000 and £750,000 to complete but most of the building will remain open to the public for the duration of the refurbishment.
The alterations include moving the existing toilets to where the bar is now and creating a new bar/cafe to the front right-hand side of the building in what is known as the Magistrates’ Room.
Mark Tattersall from Dorchester Arts hopes the changes will make the building more “attractive and welcoming”.
He said: “The position of the toilets on the corner opposite the Town Pump and Cornhill means that the view of the building from these busy areas is unattractive and can give the impression that the building is closed.”
Dorset Council has approved planning for the latest changes Dorchester Town Council wants to make to the grade II listed Tudor-style building.
A new community space will be created on the opposite side of the entrance by removing the existing toilets, with a new reception area just beyond that, accessible from both the front door on High East Street and the side door from North Square.
In a statement, Crickmay Stark Architects, who are responsible for overseeing the project, said: “The south end of the building is tired and no longer fulfils the needs and requirements of Dorchester Arts.
“The proposals intend to make better use of the space and bring life back to this part of the building to make it a welcoming community asset.”
Mr Tattersall added: “An unwelcoming and cold impression is reinforced on entering the building via the main doors, as the hallway is dark and narrow, making it hard to create a suitably welcoming ambience into what should be one of the town’s most open and hospitable buildings.”
An exhibition of the proposed changes will be held in the Corn Exchange tomorrow, September 9, between 11am and 3pm as part of the town’s Heritage Open Day.