{"id":197,"date":"2015-09-22T15:11:32","date_gmt":"2015-09-22T15:11:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wiltoncommunitycentre.org.uk\/?page_id=197"},"modified":"2017-06-12T14:42:32","modified_gmt":"2017-06-12T13:42:32","slug":"history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wiltoncommunitycentre.org.uk\/index.php\/history\/","title":{"rendered":"History"},"content":{"rendered":"

A site for cold hands<\/span><\/h3>\n

As far as we can determine, the original site was part of the Wilton Royal\u00a0Carpet Factory, whose walls still border the centre, and later on it became the site of a very expensive gloves manufacturing factory. Apparently, the owner did so well, that he had the big Georgian house built more or less opposite, which is now called
\nWilton Place and is a private residence.<\/p>\n

After that came the school as in the photo below.<\/p>\n

\"Old<\/a><\/p>\n

Transcript of this photo:\u00a0 WILTON NATIONAL SCHOOL in 1907. Situated in West Street, the school was built in 1842 to accommodate a maximum of 420 children. Residences for the master and mistress were also included<\/em> (now a Vets Surgery, offices and flats). The building was sold by Wilton House Estate in 1976 for \u00a313,000 to the newly formed Trustees and financed by the Mayor of Wilton’s Appeal, it was converted to a community centre in 1977.<\/p>\n

This is the oldest picture we have of the building which is pretty much as it is today, less the central bell tower which was removed for safety – or perhaps prudence.
\nIt would great to ring the bell when the classes were about to start! The bell stills remains in Wilton, but we declined to keep it on display for security reasons.<\/p>\n

The arch\u00a0was also taken down but the gateway still remains. The present curved wall\u00a0was supposedly built in 1850’s as a viewing area to\u00a0admire the splendid new Italianate Church built opposite by the Pembroke Family, but serves as a good entrance to todays community centre. Now sporting a 5mph sign – about the same speed as the horses that used to use it.<\/p>\n

Previously, there\u00a0been\u00a0a Wilton Museum at the Wilton Royal Carpet Factory, which was closed due to health and safety issues, but a local historian, took and stored all the display boards in his house. In 2011 he asked us if we would display all these\u00a0history boards of Wilton,\u00a0and the Centre was delighted to be asked and said yes. They are now on display throughout the hallways and Room 2 and available to look at whenever the Centre is open and Room 2 is not being used. A fascinating pictorial diary of times gone by in Wilton.<\/p>\n

Several of our older users and lots of visitors remember coming to school here.<\/p>\n

It has now been secured for future generations by vesting\u00a0by the custodian\u00a0of the Charity Commissioners, which means it will continue for community use, whatever happens to the Trustees.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Centre today<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Building and Renovation Work<\/span><\/h3>\n

in 2009, The Trustees began a survey of the dilapidated building, which had not been touched for about 25 years,\u00a0and\u00a0started making a “wish list” of improvements and panning a campaign of fundraising. The list amounted to around \u00a370,000, but slowly increased to well over \u00a3100k. Funding was slow and spasmodic, but thanks to
\nGary Nunn,\u00a0a new Trustee, we managed to raise about \u00a320,00 from local sources and grants to get the work started and employ a Project Manager. Then, as if by magic, a local man, Geoffrey Taylor, left the Centre a generous legacy, which enabled us to look at the repairs in a different way, with not just\u00a0papering over the cracks, but securing the building for the next generations of users and Trustees.<\/p>\n

The interior was first to be tackled and easier than the outside so work began there.<\/p>\n

It was most comprehensive makeover and during a two year period 2009 – 2011 the Centre was completely transformed.<\/p>\n

Interior improvements<\/span><\/h3>\n