Weymouth: Concerns raised for Old Assembly Rooms condition

Campaigners feel so strongly about what they claim is a lack of action by the building's owners they are going to stage a protest today.

They are worried about the state of the Old Assembly Rooms in Trinity Street near the harbour, and have been trying to put pressure on the owners - brewer and pub company Greene King. The company also owns the nearby Old Rooms pub.

Dating from the early seventeenth century, the Old Assembly Rooms is a Grade II listed building. 

Concerns have been raised over the condition of the Old Assembly Rooms on Trinity Street in Weymouth (Image: Alfie Lumb) Concerns have been raised amid claims the building is falling into ‘chronic disrepair’.

Heritage campaign group Dig the Street, as well as the Weymouth Civic Society, say they have asked Greene King on multiple occasions to carry out repairs or sell the building.

• READ MORE: Historic Weymouth 'neglected and falling into disrepair'

Buddleia was seen growing from the top of the building (Image: Mark Vine)

Damage has been noted to be getting worse over the past three years and includes fallen iron guttering, overgrown plants and holes through the ceiling of the building's interior. There is also a plastic sheet behind the window on the top right. Brickwork also looks to have fallen loose.

A plastic sheet was placed in front of the window to the building and the guttering on the top has fallen (Image: Alfie Lumb) Dig the Street will stage a protest outside the Old Rooms today at 11.30am after giving an ultimatum to the brewery to start work. 

Damaged brickwork on the Old Assembly Rooms (Image: Alfie Lumb) Mark Vine, local historian and member of Dig the Street, said the building is a ‘vital’ part of Weymouth's history.

He said: “For the past three to four years we’ve been in contact with Greene King but time and time again we’ve been brushed off.

Mark Vine outside the Old Assembly Rooms (Image: Alfie Lumb) “The building is literally falling down - it’s prestigious and has been left to rot. Around three months ago, metal guttering fell from the building.

“It has a huge history behind it and should not be allowed to be in this kind of jeopardy from a multi-national corporation.

“I wish that they would do what the council did regarding the (old) town hall, and give the building back to the community.”

Mr Vine warned there is a further possibility of organising a boycott of Greene King pubs in the area - which includes the White Hart and the Golden Lion - if action is not taken.

When visiting the site, a resident of Trinity Street told the Echo: "Something needs to be done with it. It's a historic building and deserves respect. If it does get used again, I hope whoever takes care of it is mindful that it sits on a residential street."

The Old Assembly Rooms is of important historical significance to Weymouth (Image: Alfie Lumb) One resident of Rodwell, said: “It's in a dire situation, we can't lose this wonderful piece of old Weymouth history.”

Another resident of Rodwell, said: "It's a shame that it has fallen into disrepair but there are a lot more problems that need funding at the moment."

James Farquharson, trustee of the Weymouth Civic Society, said: “The Weymouth Civic Society is becoming increasingly more alarmed at the condition of the Old Assembly Rooms.

“For years, we have written lots and lots of letters but Greene King has generated no action and no repairs.

Mark Vine and James Farquharson outside the Old Assembly Rooms in Weymouth (Image: Alfie Lumb) Speaking about the building’s condition, Mr Farquharson, said: “It’s getting closer to dilapidation from the past two or three years. The deterioration has been rapidly accelerating with guttering that’s fallen, buddleia growing from a roof that’s leaking. We can’t have that to a building that is precious to the town.

“It’s very important to our history- there are only a small handful of seventeenth century buildings that still exist in Weymouth as others have been demolished.

“It’s very precious to the fabric of the town, and whoever owns them should execute responsibility and maintain them."

The Old Assembly Rooms (Image: Alfie Lumb)

Talking about the planned protest, Mr Farquharson added: "We understand that there could possibly be a demo and we also understand that there could be a boycott of Greene King pubs in Weymouth.

“These are nothing to do with the civic society, but we fully understand the concerns of the public who wish to do something about it.”

The building was the backdrop for the Battle of Weymouth on February 27, 1645. Around 250 Irish royalist soldiers are said to have died outside the walls of the Assembly Rooms.

Originally a home, the building became the town’s first assembly rooms in the 1760s, when a new wing was added for balls and concerts.

King George III and his family are also said to have visited the rooms, with the monarch spending much time there during his trips to the south coast.

Buddleia was seen growing from the top of the building (Image: Mark Vine) Work was carried out on Wednesday, August 7 which saw the removal of buddleia growing from the site.

When the Echo contacted Greene King, a spokesperson for the Old Rooms Inn, said: “We understand that there are concerns about the current condition of the Assembly Rooms, the building adjoined to our pub.

“Unfortunately, the property in question isn’t currently registered in Greene King’s name, and we cannot legally undertake work on a listed property without full ownership. We are in the process of registering ownership through Land Registry and once received we are planning to apply for listed building consent so we can undertake necessary repairs and bring it back into economic use.

“Currently, we can legally only carry out maintenance to the exterior of the building. At our own risk, we are in the process of maintenance work to the outside and looking into any other essential maintenance work we can do.”