Shildon’s historic Railway Institute are inviting everyone across the town to a special pop-in session to have a peep into the future of it’s historic building, and have their say on a range of ideas on the table that have been rendered as architectural plans and diagrams by architectural practice Mosedale Gillatt, who, as previously reported in the Crier, have been engaged as consultants for this feasibility study.
“We are really interested to see and hear what people think,” the current Institute chair told the Crier. “In the past the Institute was strictly there for its members only, but since we reconstituted in 2023 we are still member-owned but open to everyone. So what we’re planning toward now is something to benefit the whole town, and beyond too, and ought to be of interest to folk of all ages whether they have thought themselves connected to the Institute or not.”
“We’ve been shown some really exciting ideas in response to our brief to the Architects, and we’d love to share those across the community and see if people agree, or what they would change. The proposals would bring the entire building back into full use in a variety of ways that could mean something to just about everyone.”
As well as peering into the future, the architects have brought in experts from a range of fields to analyse the accessibility, sustainability, electrical and mechanical function, condition and heritage value of the Stute’s building and land – producing valuable insight.
“When the Stute was founded, way back in 1833,” said the Chair, “Hackworth and his colleagues said they wanted it to go on and benefit generations as yet unborn. Now, almost 200 years later, we want exactly the same thing, and we want Shildon people, whether they are regular visitors or have never set foot in the building before, to help us to define how that benefit, and the re-imagined building and grounds, might look.”
The ‘pop-in’ session will run at the Stute between 3pm and 6:30pm on Tuesday 21st April and we are told anyone of any age is welcome to call to take a look or chat.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
