Ross-on-Wye Market House to get urgent repairs thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Ross-on-Wye Town Council has been awarded a £112,780 grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to carry out urgent repairs which are needed to restore and protect Ross-on-Wye’s historic Grade II* listed Market House.

Last week it was confirmed that The National Lottery Heritage Fund grant had been awarded for this exciting heritage project on the Market House which has been central to the life of the town for over four centuries. It is expected the works will start Spring 2024 for final completion expected to be approximately November 2024.

Over the years the Market House has suffered extensive stone erosion and urgently requires specialist conservation.  The stone window surrounds are so badly eroded that there is a serious risk of the glass falling out and the windows being boarded up. This would severely restrict use of the building, jeopardising its future, and harming the character of the town.

The work will not only be for conservation and restoration repairs to the fabric of the building, there are also a number of legacy projects planned, including new interpretation boards to tell the story of the Market House and its wider historical context. An app-based tour telling the history of Ross which will provide an engaging walk of the town, in addition to working with createRoss to add to their Museum Without Walls Augmented Reality exhibits which celebrate the history of the town and bring the past to life for residents and visitors.

Working with local Nature and Wildlife Groups we will seek to create a ‘Hedgehog Hub’ to share the story of the hedgehog as the town’s historic emblem in order to raise awareness of the serious decline in hedgehog numbers and engage people with wildlife conservation.

At the end of the work a special exhibition, in partnership with Made in Ross, will be launched to celebrate the building and its heritage.

Sarah Robson, the Town Clerk said: “We are delighted to have received this support thanks to the National Lottery players and are pleased the project will offer the opportunity to conserve this magnificent building. The Market House is such an iconic landmark within the town and it’s exciting to know that the restoration will enable residents and visitors alike to continue to enjoy it for many decades to come.”

We will be keeping residents updated on the work as it progresses via our website, newsletter, social media channels and local press.