Fire at Swindon Mechanics' Institute
Theatres Trust is concerned by reports of a fire in the building that is on our Theatres at Risk Register.
Swindon Heritage Preservation Trust, the local group campaigning for the preservation of the building, has confirmed that thanks to the rapid response of the fire services the extent of damage is limited.
The fire that affected the southern part of the building is believed to have been arson following a break in. Work is now underway to ensure that the site is secured to protect it from any further attempt to access the building
Only last year arson at another Theatre at Risk, Derby Hippodrome, resulted in sections of that building being demolished. Thankfully the damage at the Mechanics’ Institute is not so extreme. However, this incident does indicate the worrying vulnerability of vacant property and highlights the need to act swiftly to secure important historic buildings in similar situations.
While the Mechanics’ Institute has been on our Theatres at Risk Register since it began in 2006, there have recently been signs for optimism about the building’s future. Last year, we awarded Swindon Heritage Preservation Trust a grant for an updated viability study and the council has been increasingly supportive of plans to restore the Mechanics’ to community use. We hope that this incident will not prove to be a setback for these aspirations and we look forward continued discussions to secure a positive future for the Mechanics’ Institute at the heart of its community.