In a significant step towards preserving Gloucester’s industrial heritage, restoration work has commenced on a former pin factory originally converted from a barn in the early 1800s. This Grade II listed building has been awarded a share of Historic England’s prestigious £15 million Heritage at Risk Capital Fund, announced in August last year.
The pin factory, tucked away in a courtyard off Westgate Street behind the Folk of Gloucester, is one of 37 sites nationwide—and one of only seven in the South West region—to receive this crucial funding. The grant aims to support communities in safeguarding culturally significant sites that reflect their unique history.
Currently, the factory’s condition limits its potential as an expansion space for the Folk of Gloucester, a lively event and exhibition venue that was a former museum. Notably, the building’s distinctive early 19th-century Yorkshire sash windows, which slide open horizontally to maximize light and ventilation for pin production, are suffering from rotting wooden frames. This deterioration threatens the structural stability of the site.
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Restoration plans include replacing the window frames and carefully reinstalling the original historic glass panes. Additionally, repairs will be carried out on the building’s western wall to ensure its long-term preservation.
Gloucester Civic Trust, which manages the Folk of Gloucester, envisions the restored pin factory returning to its roots as a dynamic working space. Rather than housing static exhibits, the venue will provide affordable community space for craft workshops and various activities, fostering local creativity and engagement.
This project forms part of a broader initiative to revive Gloucester’s rich industrial past while reimagining heritage buildings as active, community-centered spaces. Discussions are underway to potentially incorporate a bar hosting music and theatre events within the factory, alongside further investments in the historic Cider Mill nearby.
Louise Williams, CEO of the Folk of Gloucester, praised the progress made over the past year: “We have become a thriving space for art, theatre, music, and storytelling. Our record visitor numbers and the heartfelt feedback from the public show just how cherished these buildings are.”
Other South West recipients of Historic England’s fund include the derelict Toll House at Birnbeck Pier in Weston-super-Mare and Swindon’s Health Hydro, home to England’s oldest Turkish baths.