It’s probably our most famous and noteworthy building, and the conservationists who refurbished it deserve absolute recognition. Indeed, it won this year's RICS Welsh Building Conservation Award. But was it fair to award the 2008 Quayle Award to Nantclwyd y Dre?
Rhetorical question, you might think. The only reason I ask is that Nantclwyd opened to the public in June *2007*, not in 2008 at all (though the gardens were opened this year).
2008 was an interesting year for improvements to our townscape. We’ve seen acclaimed The Picture House at the turn of the year. Ysgol Brynhyfryd’s benefited from a new canteen and adult education centre. The former Banton’s had a major makeover, and is now let. Dare we mention the new Plas Meddyg pharmacy?
And then there’s the Canolfan Creft/Craft Centre. The building design’s proved controversial but in terms of its contribution to the local economy and its importance regionally, this is the Quayle horse I felt was worth backing. Indeed, 1992, 1997 and 2004 all saw joint winners; so, if I was on the judging committee, I’d have gone jointly for the Craft Centre and The Picture House rather than Nantclwyd.
That’s neither to criticise the judges nor denigrate Nantclwyd y Dre as a worthy winner. There are no doubt good reasons why the judges chose it. It’s just that it seems so much last year. Let’s hope the award will increase visitors so that next season numbers can justify the building being open just a little more than this.
And, may be the Craft Centre might win in 2009.
The 2007 winner was the restoration project at Iwerddon (Castle Street), by the way.
Rhetorical question, you might think. The only reason I ask is that Nantclwyd opened to the public in June *2007*, not in 2008 at all (though the gardens were opened this year).2008 was an interesting year for improvements to our townscape. We’ve seen acclaimed The Picture House at the turn of the year. Ysgol Brynhyfryd’s benefited from a new canteen and adult education centre. The former Banton’s had a major makeover, and is now let. Dare we mention the new Plas Meddyg pharmacy?
And then there’s the Canolfan Creft/Craft Centre. The building design’s proved controversial but in terms of its contribution to the local economy and its importance regionally, this is the Quayle horse I felt was worth backing. Indeed, 1992, 1997 and 2004 all saw joint winners; so, if I was on the judging committee, I’d have gone jointly for the Craft Centre and The Picture House rather than Nantclwyd.
That’s neither to criticise the judges nor denigrate Nantclwyd y Dre as a worthy winner. There are no doubt good reasons why the judges chose it. It’s just that it seems so much last year. Let’s hope the award will increase visitors so that next season numbers can justify the building being open just a little more than this.
And, may be the Craft Centre might win in 2009.
The 2007 winner was the restoration project at Iwerddon (Castle Street), by the way.