AN HISTORIC Powys building – described as once arguably being the most important in Radnorshire – has been awarded more than £180,000 in funding by the UK Government, to preserve it as a community asset.

The Judge's Lodging in Presteigne will receive £187,557 from the UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund, which supports treasured institutions like pubs, museums and sports clubs across the UK so that they can be run by the community, for the community.

The funding will go towards plans from the trust that owns the Grade II-listed building to convert the first floor into two holiday lets, introduce a café on the ground floor with improved disabled access to the garden at the back of the building, and add parking spaces and extra room outdoors.

“The Judge’s Lodging was once arguably the most important building in Radnorshire,” said Gabrielle Rivers, the Judge’s Lodging museum development manager.

County Times: The Judge's Lodging, in Presteigne, is benefitting from funding of more than £180,000 The Judge's Lodging, in Presteigne, is benefitting from funding of more than £180,000 (Image: Judge's Lodging, Presteigne)

“The Community Ownership Fund joins a pledge we have also received from National Lottery Heritage Fund, which together will allow us to convert the former flat, once used by housekeepers to the Assize judges, into two holiday let apartments.

“These will be instrumental in creating a sustainable future for the Judge’s Lodging Museum.

“It is run by its own charity, the Judge’s Lodging Trust, who since 2018 also owns the building itself, and has been working on ideas and income streams to help support it.

“This project forges us forwards into a future where the building is able to support itself and can then plan exciting new developments and activities for the future. It is, we hope, just the beginning.”

The funding will preserve the historic old court building and sustain its financial resilience so it can continue to be a fully functioning museum.

Welsh Secretary of State David TC Davies said: “Levelling up is at the centre of the UK Government’s ambitions and communities across Wales will be transformed over the coming years as this funding continues.

“The Community Ownership Fund has now given £4 million for 18 projects in Wales, part of 195 projects now being supported across the UK.

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“These three latest Welsh recipients of the Community Ownership Fund are all fantastic projects that will make a huge difference to their local areas.”

In total, £770,057 has been announced for three projects in Wales this week, including a Ceredigion pub which was frequented by Dylan Thomas.

Tafarn y Vale/the Vale of Aeron pub in Lampeter was known as a favourite haunt of the Welsh poet when he lived nearby in the 1940s, and it will use the £300,000 investment for renovations to secure its future and make it accessible to the whole community.