Wales

Victorian school building is to be renovated in £900,000 project

A 19th century former school building on Quickwell Hill in Pembrokeshire is being lovingly restored in order to create an innovative learning facility.

The Grade II listed property has been purchased by The Friends of St. David’s Cathedral, who have embarked upon an exciting project to transform the redundant school into an Education and Pilgrimage Centre.

The purpose of the centre is to develop and deliver a programme of educational outreach to children between the ages of 7 and 18. This will include day visits to the Cathedral, which will enable groups to engage with the various facets of the Cathedral’s life in conjunction with various areas of the National Curriculum.

In addition, themed days will revolve around the key subjects including: religious education, history, art, mathematics and the English and Welsh languages. Further provisions will include adult educational events and community facilities for groups.

Built in the 1870s, the school was the Church School for the parish for almost 100 years. Following the opening of Ysgol Bro Dewi in 2000, the building sadly fell into disuse and had been boarded up for many years.

Works include the construction of an extension to provide necessary office spaces and toilet facilities, along with repair and alterations to the Victorian main hall. Additional works include the erection of a pentice alongside the rear of the building, the installation of disabled access and the incorporation of renewable energy systems.

The £900,000 refurbishment project began onsite in November 2011 and is expected to be completed in October 2012. Main contractor for the project is Carreg Construction and the architect is Caroe & Partners.

Reverend Harri Williams commented:

“This is an exciting project for the Cathedral and for the city of St. David’s Cathedral. This building has long been an eyesore within this community and this project will not enhance only the beauty of the city, but will also provide a wonderful base for the Cathedral’s educational outreach to the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come to St. David’s Cathedral every year.”

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