Express & Star

Consortium wants to turn Stafford's Shire Hall into arts hub and museum

A group has submitted a proposal to inject £150,000 into the Shire Hall transforming it into an arts hub and county museum.

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The Shire Hall closed in July.

The Stafford Heritage Consortium wants to form a non-for-profit company to rent the iconic Grade II* listed building at a peppercorn rate from Staffordshire County Council for a period of 20 years.

They want to host arts and crafts workshops, exhibit local and national works in the gallery, sell local Staffordshire goods from a gift shop and re-open the courtrooms to host public meetings and re-enactments.

While one of the courtrooms will be converted into ‘The Staffordshire Museum’. There would also be a cafe on site.

Ben Sandy, aged 40, from Stafford, is one member of the three-man consortium alongside his father Nigel Sandy and fellow businessman and property developer Hugh Barnes.

Ben said: "The idea for the Shire Hall is to have this attraction with lots of things going on, a place to be entertained, relax and do business, but also to have this standout museum that is on rotation with different things on display.

"We have spoke to Jeremy Lefroy (Stafford MP) about getting a RAF collection which is already in Staffordshire but kept in a hanger, then you have got the Staffordshire Regimental Association who want to provide a collection and there is an idea for a women's museum which would be a great idea.

"There are some really famous women who were convicted at the Shire Hall such as Mary Reibey who was convicted (for horse stealing) and sent to Australia where she became one of their most famous people.

"There are lots of stories like that to be told."

He added: "Staffordshire is known as the creative county, we are the county town, and we just want to showcase what it is all about.

"I am very excited about the whole thing I just now hope it can become a reality and hope the council can see we are a viable proposition.

"The key thing for us is that we have got our own funding whereas other parties are relying on grants and donations, starting from zero. Our business plan is not like that."

Ben said the consortium were happy to talk to any other groups interested in being involved with operating the Shire Hall.

The council has tasked the Princes Regeneration Trust to produce a report recommending what the Shire Hall should be used for in the future. That is expected to be published next month.

The historic venue closed in July.