Local MP says scheme could breathe new life into historic Haverfordwest landmark

HAVERFORDWEST MP Henry Tufnell has welcomed the approval of plans to transform the town’s historic Shire Hall into a theatre, café and restaurant, describing the move as “fantastic news” for the county town.

The comments come after Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee voted by eleven votes to two to approve plans to turn part of the former courthouse on Haverfordwest High Street into a theatre.

As previously reported by The Pembrokeshire Herald, the Grade-II*-listed building – described by Cadw as one of the finest of its type in Wales – has stood largely unused for years despite previous attempts to bring parts of it back into use.

Built in 1835 to the design of local architect William Owen, the former courtroom has played a major role in Pembrokeshire’s legal history, including hosting trials linked to the Rebecca Riots in the nineteenth century.

Posting on social media following the decision, Mr Tufnell said: “Fantastic news for Haverfordwest.

“Built in 1835, Shire Hall is a brilliant piece of local history.

“Today, redevelopment has officially been approved for the courthouse and upper-floor restaurant after a long time out of use.

“The space is set to be transformed into a theatre, café, and restaurant.”

He added that the redevelopment would help secure the future of one of the town’s most recognisable buildings.

The post included a photograph of the MP inside the courthouse with Thomas Baden Tudor, one of those involved in efforts to bring the building back into use.

Supporters of the scheme say the development could become a major cultural attraction for the county town, boosting footfall and helping revitalise the High Street.

Speaking during the planning meeting, Drew Baker, the proposed end user of the theatre, described the project as an investment in the “cultural economy of Haverfordwest” that would create a “genuine cultural destination” in the heart of the town.

While the planning application for the change of use has now been approved, a separate listed building consent application covering internal alterations – including proposals for a theatre, pizza restaurant and bar – is still under consideration by county planners.

CALLS for permission to replace a decayed spiral staircase preventing access to the top of one of Pembrokeshire’s historic castles have been given the go-ahead.

Trustees of the T O Lewis Trust sought listed building consent to remove a deteriorating timber spiral staircase and replace it with an aluminium structure at the Grade-II-listed Hean Castle near Saundersfoot.

The application, submitted to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park through agents Acanthus Holden Architects, also included proposals for pointing and masonry repairs to a flue turret, stair turret and south bay of the historic mansion.

A supporting statement submitted with the application said the works are intended to restore access to the castle’s main tower while reducing moisture damage affecting the narrow stone turrets.

The existing spiral staircase, believed to be original and standing around 13 metres high, has deteriorated significantly, particularly in its upper section.

The statement said: “The upper third of the wooden treads in the existing and very possibly the original spiral staircase are now badly decayed where they slot into the equally rotten stringers at this level, to the point that safe access to the turret top is no longer safe.”

Costly replacement

Applicants said replacing the staircase in timber would be difficult and expensive, with much of the original fabrication likely carried out on-site.

They added that accessing the turret externally at high level for repairs is extremely difficult, meaning only limited repointing work would be possible.

The statement warned that continued water ingress into the turret could quickly damage any new timber staircase.

Two replacement options were considered — aluminium and galvanised steel — with both carrying similar costs.

However, aluminium was selected as the preferred option.

The statement added: “An acceptable quote has been received for the supply of a sectional staircase with made-to-measure hardwood timber treads bolted to the newel brackets. The made-to-measure treads will allow us a degree of flexibility with regard to any variance in the diameter of the tube.”

Applicants said the proposed works would secure the building’s long-term sustainability, improve accessibility and address urgent structural concerns.

Saundersfoot Community Council raised no objections to the scheme.

The listed building consent application was conditionally approved by planning officers.

A FORMER Haverfordwest courthouse described as one of the finest buildings of its type in Wales is set to be transformed into a theatre after county planners gave the scheme the go-ahead.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee approved an application by Mr N Heywood for a change of use of part of Shire Hall, High Street, Haverfordwest, at its June meeting.

The Grade-II*-listed building was built in 1835 to the design of local architect William Owen. Cadw has described it as one of the finest buildings of its type in Wales.

The courtroom has also played an important role in the county’s legal history. According to Haverfordwest Civic Society, it hosted a number of major trials, including cases involving the Rebecca Rioters between 1840 and 1844.

The law courts later moved to Hawthorn Rise, Haverfordwest, and Pembrokeshire County Council subsequently granted a developer a 999-year lease on the building at a peppercorn rent.

Shire Hall housed restaurants on its upper floors in the early 2000s, with the last believed to have closed around 2010.

Cultural destination

The application says the theatre would “bring the vacant building back into a meaningful use,” helping to preserve the Grade-II*-listed building and support the regeneration of Haverfordwest town centre.

There would be no external changes to Shire Hall, although internal works are proposed. A separate listed building consent application has also been submitted.

The applicant’s agent, Ian Bartlett Planning and Architectural Services, confirmed the theatre would operate between 10:00am and 11:00pm.

Haverfordwest Town Council supported the scheme in principle but asked for the application to be considered by the planning committee, citing concerns about the lack of detail in the initial plans and the potential impact on the historic building.

Haverfordwest Civic Society raised similar concerns, saying members were “anxious that any new use should respect and conserve the integrity of the historic courtroom interior,” which remains substantially intact, including the judges’ bench, dock, witness box, public benches and associated fittings.

Historic use

An officer report recommending approval said the building’s former use as a courtroom meant it had historically been used for public assembly.

It stated: “The proposed use as a theatre would remain broadly compatible with the historic function of the courtroom as a place used for public congregation.

“The proposed use as a theatre would introduce audience-based occupation and periods of intensified use, however, this is not considered inherently dissimilar to the building’s historic use, with any internal alterations subject to the listed building consent application which is currently under consideration.

“In addition, bringing the building into use is likely to contribute positively to the preservation and maintenance of the historic building.”

At the meeting, Drew Baker, speaking as the end user of the theatre scheme, said the proposals would bring “one of the finest public buildings of its type in Wales” back “into meaningful use”.

He said the scheme represented an “investment in the cultural economy of Haverfordwest” and would create a “genuine cultural destination” in the town centre.

Members were told the related listed building consent application would deal with proposed interior changes, with the wider plans including a theatre, pizza restaurant and bar.

The application was approved by eleven votes to two. The listed building consent application is still being considered by planners.