The Council is working in partnership with the Trustees of the Celynen Collieries Institute & Memorial Hall on their plans to restore these beloved and historic buildings.
The final step in the Trustees' inspiring campaign to secure the future of the buildings was taken in 2012, with a £2.2 million grant award from the Welsh Government. Funding has also been awarded from Heritage Lottery, Big Lottery, Coalfields Regeneration Trust, CADW, European Union Convergence Programme and the Trustees own funds – a total of £5.8 million, making it one of the most important restoration projects in Wales.
The funding will restore and revitalise the buildings to their former glory at the heart of the local community.
The Trustees have appointed an experienced and dedicated project team. Together with the help of community volunteers, their hard work will ensure that the "Memo" is once again the centre of cultural activity in the town.
The restored Memo and Institute will include:
- A new modern access link building
- Improved facilities for existing and future users.
- Complete and sensitive restoration internally & externally
- Creation of an Educational Learning Zone
- Re-location of the Newbridge Library to the Institute's ground floor
- Restoration of the 1920's theatre auditorium
- Creation of a heritage learning experience
When will work start?
Institute: Winter 2011 – Spring 2013
Memo: Summer 2013 – Summer 2014