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12
Aug 2024
Fundraiser to buy Ripley Town Hall reaches halfway
A fundraising appeal to buy Ripley's grade II-listed town hall has reached the halfway point.
Ripley Castle Estate is selling the town hall, also known as the hôtel de ville, to the social club that manages it.
The building has been in community use since it was built in 1854.
It is used by more than 20 groups, including Ripley Live, which runs a live music programme at the venue, and Ripley Endowed Church of England Primary School, which serves school dinners there.
The Stray Ferret reported that the town hall was up for sale two days before the rest of the Ripley Castle Estate was put up for sale.
The estate has been owned by the Ingilby family for more than 700 years
Ripley Star Club, which was formed in 1948 for soldiers coming back from the war, was given the opportunity by Sit Thomas Ingilby to purchase the building for £400,000.
The club is aiming to raise £50,000 towards the purchase.
The crowdfunder for the cause has raised over £6,500. A further £25,000 has been transferred directly to the club. This means that along with grants the club hopes to secure, the appeal is at about the halfway mark.
Club secretary Andy Herrington said:
Taking over ownership allows us to avoid rent and makes it more viable.
[The fundraising] is going well. We have got about halfway there. It was a surprise when the estate went up for sale, but we had agreed the purchase before, and Sir Thomas did give his word that he would uphold the commitment to us.
The rest of the funds are expected to be awarded in grants from the National Lottery and the government.
Mr Herrington added the general election slowed down the grant-making process.
Speaking last week, he said:
We will be at Ripley Show this weekend with a gazebo and a banner to raise awareness and funds. We will have a raffle. We made over £600 at Ripley market. People have been 100 per cent supportive of us.
However small a donation is it is valued, it all adds up.
The building, which was envisaged to resemble a French town hall, was completed in 1854.
It was refurbished and restored in 2003 with the help of Sir Thomas and a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Mr Herrington said:
We have ambitious plans for when we own the building. We want to have it cleaned and pointed up.
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