Corsham Heritage Centre relaunch (From Wiltshire Times)

Corsham Heritage Centre relaunch

3:00pm Thursday 7th March 2013 in News

Changes are under way at the Corsham Heritage and Information Centre, as it prepares to relaunch and offer a new range of services.

Based at Arnold House in High Street, it now serves as a tourist information centre, as well as housing a collection of items of historical importance to the town.

However, after a cut in its council funding, the group that runs it is looking to transform the centre to a self-sufficient entity. The new facility will have four sections, covering tourism and heritage in the town.

As well as the current Tourist Information Centre, the Corsham Area Tourism Association has been established, which will work with hotels in the area to promote the town to visitors.

The building’s former Heritage Room, which had housed displays and artefacts relating to the town’s history – including its role in the wool-weaving trade – will now be rented out to commercial groups, as well as hosting a series of displays, which will change four times a year.

The final change to the centre will be the creation of a Made in Corsham shop, staffed by volunteers, which will raise funds for the centre through the sale of locally-produced, hand-crafted items.

Peter Tapscott, chairman of the Friends of Corsham Area Heritage Centre, said: “I focus my energy on presenting to the local populace the heritage of Corsham, but, when it’s ready, the shop will be a great new addition for Corsham.

“About two weeks ago in the Town Hall there was a session where local craftspeople offered their goods, and there has been a lot of interest.

“We’re currently working to get it all ready, but hopefully it will all be up and running by Easter.”