A historic building in Weymouth at the centre of a campaign to try and get it protected could be turned into a home or even a museum, it is understood.

Campaigners for the Old Assembly Rooms say they hope the future is brighter for the Trinity Street site, one of Weymouth's oldest buildings.

News of future uses was hinted at during a meeting between the estates manager of site owners Greene King brewery, local campaigner Mark Vine, and Weymouth Civic Society's James Farquharson. 

As previously reported, campaigners from heritage pressure group Dig the Street had protested outside the seventeenth century building after claiming that Greene King had let the site fall into disrepair.

They have been concerned at the state of the building for a number of years after it was reported that guttering had fallen, as well as there being holes in the ceiling.

The Old Assembly Rooms on Trinity Street (Image: Alfie Lumb) Greene King said it could not carry out works, other than to the outside the building, due to the fact that it does not officially own it.

Mr Vine said the meeting was ‘very interesting' and that the brewery is intending to eventually sell the site as a family home.

He said: “I mentioned that I knew someone who was interested in turning it into a maritime museum, and instead of dismissing the idea out of hand, they liked it and said that a change of use would have to be applied for.

“Bottom line is, they are running a business and the Assembly Rooms is an asset, plain and simple. We can't really expect them to feel the same way about it as we do. They are ruled by the head - we, by the heart.

“We are pleased to be in face-to-face contact with Greene King at last and hope that the future of this iconic Weymouth building is now a little brighter."

Mark Vine of Dig the Street, and James Farquharson of Weymouth Civic Society outside the Old Assembly Rooms (Image: Alfie Lumb)Mr Farquharson said: “We met with the head of estates who explained the situation with ownership and the state of the building inside.

"We just want the building to be protected for future generations, and it looks like there is light at the end of the tunnel, whether that be turning the property into a home, or a museum.

“The key fact that we wish would have been communicated to us earlier is that from August, Greene King had uninterrupted possession of the rooms for 20 years which means they can apply to the Land Registry for a freehold of the site.

“At the moment, they have no paperwork to say they own the building which means legally they can't do any work to it, and they are seeking it as quickly as possible in the hopes of completely refurbishing the building for a new purpose and we hope they are successful.”

A spokesperson for Greene King said: "We are still in the process of registering the ownership and applying for listed building consent so that we will be able to make the necessary upgrades and are continuing to work with the relevant parties to progress this further."

The spokesperson remained tight-lipped about the future of the site, adding: "Once the registration for the ownership of the building and the application for listed building consent is completed, we will make a final decision on the future of the Old Assembly Rooms. 

"We’ll continue to keep the Weymouth Civic Society and campaign representatives informed of our plans for the building once these have been decided."