Historic ironmonger comes back to life as community hub

Treadgolds was Purchased by the John Pounds Community Trust in 2013; the Trust seeks to provide a 'Gateway for a Happier and Healthier Life for All' through inclusive activities and services for the local community. In 2018 the Trust secured funding to develop part of the building into an extension on the existing Community Centre located a street away. 

The project has seen the warehouse spaces conserved and sensitively remodelled to create a multi-use activities and meeting space, reception, accessible WC facilities, and mezzanine meeting room. The light touch approach to the design retains the historic fabric and essential character of the building while marking out the interventions as being new and of their own time, creating a new layer of history. Repairs were kept to a minimum and focused on consolidation and stabilisation retaining existing fixtures and fittings where possible. Bold new interventions were created using simple robust details and materials; exposed plywood walls, painted timber screens and key clamp handrails and guarding. A new raised floor provides a surface suitable for group use whilst preserving the historic floorboards below. A new glazed screen provides separation from but also a view through to the un-renovated spaces, revealing the original ironmongers equipment and stock metal. The result is not necessarily ‘quiet’, but it is mannerly, retaining the essential character of the building and responding to present day needs in the architectural language of its time.

The project provides new revenue streams enabling the Trust to scale up its social programme with additional community engagement, wellbeing activities, training, and increased workspace for small enterprises.