Cardigan Townscape Heritage Initiative

Rediscovering Our Town’s Identity

As an ancient Welsh cultural and commercial centre, the largely unspoilt townscape of Cardigan has much to offer as a vibrant trading and tourist hub. Cardigan Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) aims to aid the conservation of the town’s unique architectural landscape. The THI funds the renovation of business and retail buildings, alongside the improvement of local facilities and gap sites, helping to reinstate Cardigan’s importance as an economic, historic and cultural centre in West Wales.

Far right The much improved Discount Bathroom Centre. Right a picture of it before restoration began.

This building has been radically changed by: the enlarging of an opening at the front and making good with brick or block wall; existing windows removed and replace; external walls stripped of lime wash and loose render; all upvc goods removed; new first floor windows, new roof; new signage; and of course new exterior colour. TIG grant.

Striving for an Economically Sustainable Future

With grants contributing to restoration costs, the Cardigan THI makes renovating properties to their built heritage economically viable. We also provide expert advice on preserving a building’s original features of a building, utilising traditional building techniques and materials and ensuring its unity with the surrounding architecture - all paramount to increasing its market value.

Since the THI scheme was introduced five years ago, over sixty properties have received THI or Town Improvement Grants (TIG), and applications are being dealt with on a weekly basis. In today's competitive environment, creating an attractive, individual town centre is key to an economically stable and sustainable future for Cardigan. The scheme has also promoted the use of historical type signage.

Far left: The glass etched window of Anwen Teifi.

Left: The tiles underneath the shop window of Dewi James, butchers.

Cardigan Heritage Event: May 2007

The next Cardigan Heritage event, will be held in May 2007, in the grounds of the historic Cardigan Castle. The event will explore the economic benefits of revitalising historic environment using the example of Cardigan. A forum will discuss the proposals for providing a sustainable future for Cardigan Castle. Open to the general public alongside heritage professionals, the event will include prominent speakers and skilled craftsmen presenting a series of seminars, workshops and demonstrations. There will also be a photographic exhibition of historic Cardigan. More news as it happens.

For more information, please contact Gary Cooper on 01239 621347, thi@ceredigion.gov.uk.

The partners

Following the achievements of the initial Cardigan Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) programme, Ceredigion County Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund, CADW, EU Objective 1, the Welsh Assembly Government, the South Ceredigion Regeneration Plan and Menter Aberteifi, have joined forces to roll out the programme to other properties in Cardigan.

About

The Townscape Heritage Scheme has been running in Cardigan for the past 5 years. The first stage was so successful that a second phase with far greater funding was launched in October 2004. The second phase is run and managed by Ceredigion County Council with the following partners:

EU Objective 1

Welsh Assembly Government

Cardigan and South Wales Regeneration Grant

Heritage Lottery Fund

CADW

Menter Aberteifi

Take a look at our recent property developments