Category: Factual
& Arts TV; Scotland
Date: 26.07.2004
Printable version
Restoration
results from third programme revealed
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Speaking from Hampton Court Palace, Griff Rhys Jones
last night revealed that the nation had chosen the Workingman's Memorial
Hall and Institute in Newbridge, South Wales to be the third building
to go through to the final of this year's ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ TWO series Restoration
– winning over 44% of the votes cast.
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Last Tuesday (20 July), in the third episode of Restoration,
Griff called on viewers to choose between the Workingman's Memorial
Hall and Institute and two other buildings – Cardigan Castle
in Cardigan and the Llanfyllin Workhouse in Powys.
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Information on all three buildings is available through
bbc.co.uk/restoration.
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When 35% of the Welsh population was made up of miners
and their families the Workingmen's Institutes were at the centre of
the communities they served.
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The Newbridge Institute was, unusually, paid for by
the miners themselves.
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In 1908 they boldly took out a mortgage and built an
Institute with a library, reading room and games rooms.
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Later they took out another mortgage and built the fantastic
Memorial Hall with a beautiful art deco cinema, wonderful theatre and
well-used dancehall.
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The rapid decline of the mining industry has seen the
community battling for the Institute's survival, and the group of local
campaigners championing these buildings are determined that they will
become the heart of the community once again.
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Jennifer Stewart, Heritage Lottery Fund Manager for
Wales, said today: "This fine Edwardian building is a survivor
of the age of coal mining in Wales and a testament to the close-knit
communities of the coal-mining towns.
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"The Heritage Lottery Fund is delighted that this
symbol of community spirit has reached the Final of Restoration.
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"The Heritage Lottery Fund
has set aside £2.5m to help restore the winning building. Now
is the time for the people of Wales to get behind their finalist and
save the Workingman's Institute and Memorial Hall for future generations
to enjoy."
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Last night's result means the Workingman's Institute
and Memorial Hall will be one of eight buildings to be featured in the
live Restoration Final at Hampton Court Palace on Sunday 8 August on
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ TWO.
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Here a nationwide vote will decide which building should
be given a new lease of life with money raised throughout the course
of the series.
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Last night three more buildings were featured for viewers
to choose between, this time in the South West of England – South
Caradon Mine in Bodmin, Cornwall; Castle House in Bridgwater
in Somerset; and Sherborne House in Sherborne, Dorset.
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Tomorrow's episode of Restoration (Tuesday 27 July)
will reveal which of these will become the fourth building to go through
to the final.
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Lines are now open and viewers can vote by calling 09011
33 22 22.
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Voting lines are open for two days for each programme
from 2.00am on day of transmission until midnight on day after.
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Restoration is produced by Endemol UK Productions for
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Scotland.
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Notes to Editors
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Free tickets to the live Restoration Final on Sunday
8 August at Hampton Court Palace are available by calling 0870 143 2205.
Doors open at 7.30pm and the show starts at 9.00pm.
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