Bridport Literary and Scientific Institute restoration to bring "community asset" back to life

Glancing at the outside of the iconic East Street building, which as remained empty since 1997, you may wonder why the project has needed £2m of funding to get off the ground.

The Bridport News was invited to take a look inside the LSI before the restoration work gets into full swing – and the building, known by many as the old Bridport library, is clearly in need of some care and attention. The LSI has been on the national At Risk register since 2002.

Despite the missing floorboards, cracked ceilings and boarded up windows, a history of the town is waiting to be rediscovered. The Bridport Area Development Trust, after a long battle including a court ruling, will finally bring the town’s history back to life – when the LSI re-opens in the Autumn of 2017.

Mike Carter, chairman of the trust, is under no illusion that the project will not be easy.

He said: “The building is big on volume but it is not so big on floor space.

“As it is a Grade 2* Listed building, we have to be really careful about the kind of fabric and materials we use. We have had an archaeological report done in the basement and they have not found anything down there.

“We had to board up the windows because they were failing and glass was falling down.”

The restoration will include creating public spaces and facilities for the community and visitors to use – including meeting rooms, civic space, a café, office and studio space, toilets and a lift.

The central part of the building will be removed and converted to a courtyard with a glass roof.

The existing entrance ramp will be removed, with access provided from the street to the basement -as well as stairs leading to the main entrance. A mezzanine floor will be installed to make the most of the high ceilings and create more floor space.

The trust’s plan to restore the building is not the first attempt to resurrect the LSI - but several attempts have failed over lack of funding.

Mr Carter believes the trust’s business plan, helped by activities co-ordinator Crystal Johnson, will ensure the restoration is a success.

He added: “Crystal became involved in putting the business plan together.

“The final funding come together last year and the tail end of 2014.Then we spent most of last year appointing a professional team.

“The business plan is the reason that before this, the previous attempts to restore the building had failed as it has generated enough for running costs to make it viable.

“It has to be self sufficient, otherwise it will fail.”

The Bridport News reported last week that parking bay and pavement restrictions have been imposed for 53 weeks, while the work is carried out. The only way into the building is through the front door, meaning that all materials not only have to enter from East Street - but each piece must also be small enough to squeeze though the door.

Mr Carter thanked the town in advance for patience during the work, but believes most people in Bridport are keen for the LSI to be reopened.

He said: “It is a major project for the town.

“We are conscious that it gives something back to the town and we are pleased actually doing something with it after all these years of planning.

“There will be two occasions during the work where we will have to close East Street completely, in order to get a crane in. The idea is at those points, we will try and open it to the community and let them come in and see what we are doing.” Ms Johnson is excited that space will be available in the restored LSI for local businesses and start-ups.

She said: “Originally the council wanted to sell the building for private development - but the trust stepped in and fought hard to keep the building as a community asset. The project has always been about supporting local businesses and helping to train local people.”

Alongside the building work, a programme of activities will explore the history of the building.

The trust has appointed an oral history coordinator to record local memories about the building and would love to hear from anyone who would be willing to share their stories.

The LSI was opened in 1834 as a mechanics institute, and given to the town as a gift by the then MP, Henry Warburton. The building became the LSI in 1855, featuring a reading room and lecture room.

During the Second World War, the building was used as a Red Cross recreation centre for American troops, before their landed at Omaha Beach on D-Day.

Charles Palmer, trustee, said: “The LSI is also a story about the town and poverty and lack of opportunity for the youth.

“After the war, the welfare state and the NHS were created, and that took on a lot of the support that was being offered from here.”

To receive progress on the restoration and to share your story of the LSI, please email crystal@bridportadt.org.uk