Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts. Become a member today

An artist who previously exhibited at Winding House has called the council’s plan to mothball the venue “shameful”.

Marie Davison, from Oakdale, held her exhibition The World Around Me, in the building’s East Gallery last April. 

Caerphilly County Borough Council recently announced plans to mothball the venue and temporarily save an estimated £93,000 for 2024/25.

Marie told Caerphilly Observer that she disagreed with the plans and said: “I feel that the Winding House is a brilliant space and it should be maintained if at all possible.

“It’s an iconic building, which contains the original winding engine, and it’s shameful that it’s been considered for mothballing.”

New Tredegar’s Winding House Museum is home to a collection of 14,000 items helping to preserve the history of Caerphilly County Borough. It also boasts two exhibition spaces and hosts learning programmes for schools. 

Restored as a museum in 1993, it holds a winding engine that was built in 1891 and is protected as a Grade II listed building.

If the council’s proposal is approved, the building will be temporarily closed while community ownership will be explored.

The winding engine will continue to be run by volunteers monthly.

“More promotion” of Winding House needed

Marie added that she felt the building was not being used to “its full potential” and was missing out on using the space as a job centre or opening it up to groups. 

This was echoed by Karen Jones, who exhibited her work at the venue last year as part of the art collective, Art Bambw Gwyrdd. 

Karen said: “This is a unique building and part of our heritage and culture. It gives school children and others an opportunity to experience our history.”  

Karen added that while the art gallery is “superb” it was “very quiet” in 2023.

She continued: “A lot more promotion should have been done by the Winding House,” adding that poor weather could have also played a role.

Karen, who will soon have her work on display in the Cynon Valley Museum, added that this is run by volunteers and a community trust and that their model would “be helpful”.   

Marie, however, feared that getting volunteers would be difficult. She said: “If the council can’t afford to run it, I don’t know how they expect a community group to run it.”

Council response

A spokesperson for Caerphilly County Borough Council said: “As outlined in the cabinet report published earlier this week, the council is facing a budget shortfall of around £66 million over the next three years.

“Therefore, a number of extremely difficult decisions will need to made in order to meet this significant financial challenge. The proposal to mothball the Winding House in New Tredegar while a Community Asset Transfer is explored, is one of these proposals.

“It is important to note that no decisions have been made yet, and we encourage residents to share their views in our public consultation that opened on January 22.”

The council has also proposed several other cuts including the closure of Coffi Vista, along with a council tax increase of 6.9%.