Community efforts are underway to restore and refurbish two of Caerphilly’s most historic workmen’s halls while a third is soon to have its official reopening.
Groups behind Caerphilly Workmen’s Hall and Bedwas Workmen’s Hall are raising the funds for a restoration and the installation of a disabled access lift respectively, while Newbridge Memorial Hall and Institute will have its official reopening on July 24.
Opened in 1923 and funded through a contribution of a penny a week by miners and a grant from local colliery owner Sir Samuel Instone, Bedwas Workmen’s Hall housed a public hall, library, cinema, dance hall and billiards hall.
Bedwas Workmen’s Hall came into BTM Community Council ownership in September 1979 and since 1991 has been managed by a committee comprised of local community councillors in partnership with local residents.
The three-storey Grade II listed building still hosts live music and entertainment and is also home to BTM Youth Club.
BTM Community Council chair Elizabeth Aldworth said: “We are now fundraising to raise £40,000 for disabled access at the hall which will further allow everyone in Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen to use this fabulous venue.”
In Caerphilly town, similar efforts are being made to raise funds for a complete restoration of Caerphilly Workmen’s Hall. Regular events are now being held at the venue.
Resident Kathy Lye is the new chair of the volunteer committee trying to bring the local venue back to its former glory.
She recently raised more than £200 by running the Caerphilly 10k race for the hall’s Ian Macdonald Memorial Fund – set up in memory of the previous chair.
Kathy, 38, said: “Ian wanted to see the Workmen’s Hall refurbished more than anything else.
“He made it his life’s work when he retired and he inspired everyone else on the committee to do all we could to make it happen.”
Built using funds from local miners, Caerphilly Workmen’s Hall was opened in 1925.
Both Bedwas and Caerphilly halls can look to Newbridge for inspiration.
Former Islwyn MP Lord Don Touhig is to officially open the first completed phase of the Newbridge Memo redevelopment on July 24.
The event will be the culmination of a decade of work for volunteers led by chairman Howard Stone.
The Institute opened in 1908 and included a billiards room, library, committee room and reading room. The Memo – which had a ballroom and cinema – was opened in 1925 as a memorial to local servicemen who died during the First World War.
The restoration of the buildings has seen the development of a new modern building linking the two.
The Memo will be the new home to Newbridge Library as well as providing space for Gwent Police, a council cash desk and the Royal Air Forces Association.
There is also new office space and the Wales and the west branch of the RAF association’s charity is set to move in as well as Gwent Police at a special ‘hot desk’ and Caerphilly council’s cash desk.
The £5.6 million project has seen the downstairs lounge area turned into a library complete with a performance stage for local youngsters.
The Memo restoration scheme is being funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government, the Welsh Government’s Targeted Match Fund, the Heritage Lottery Fund, Big Lottery, CADW, Trustees of the Institute and Memo and the Coalfields Regeneration Trust.
• If you would like to contribute to Caerphilly Workmen’s Hall’s Ian Macdonald Memorial Fund or to volunteer contact Kathy Lye on 029 2086 6329.
• For information about Bedwas Workmen’s Hall visit www.bedwasworkmanshall.co.uk or call 07572235120.
• Details on Newbridge Memo’s opening can be found at www.newbridge-memo.co.uk