Winding House to partially close as council looks for community group to take it over

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

New Tredegar’s Winding House will partially close this week as the council continues to look for a community group to take it over. 

The venue, on Cross Street, currently houses a coffee shop, exhibition spaces, the winding engine, and office space.

It is also home to a collection of 14,000 items with ‘strong links’ to the history of Caerphilly County Borough.

However, it will only run in its current capacity until Thursday March 28.

After that date, the coffee shop, exhibition spaces, and museum will close – but the offices will remain open, while volunteers will continue to keep the winding engine going.

The plan to mothball the venue is expected to save Caerphilly County Borough Council around £93,000 for 2024/25.

“It has to be preserved for future generations”

Restored as a museum in 1993, the building is grade II-listed and holds a winding engine built in 1891.

New Tredegar ward councillor Eluned Stenner told Caerphilly Observer the closure was “sensitive”.

Cllr Stenner, who is the council’s cabinet member for finance, said: “There are tough decisions to be made because of the lack of funding but the Winding House is New Tredegar’s heritage.

“It has to be preserved for future generations. We will do a community asset transfer and we will future-proof that for our kids.”

A community asset transfer involves handing over land or buildings from a public entity to a community organisation, which then manages it.

According to a statement released by the Winding House, the council is “currently progressing discussions with a local community group” about this. 

A council spokesperson said: “Discussions are at an early stage, so we can’t provide too much detail at present.

“The community asset transfer could take around 12 months to complete, but we will provide updates as this progresses.

“The volunteers will continue to operate the winding engine and the office accommodation will still be in use within the building.”