Stroud’s historic Old Town Hall is set for a new lease of life as a Centre for Textile Arts, following agreement by Stroud District Council to a proposal led by Stroud Valleys Artspace and Stroudwater Textile Trust.
The project will turn the Grade II* listed building in the Shambles, in the centre of Stroud, into an artist-led creative space celebrating the town’s woollen heritage. It is also intended to provide new opportunities for artists, makers, residents and visitors.
The announcement was published by Stroud Times on October 28, following an update dated October 27, 2026.
A new future for one of Stroud’s oldest buildings
The Old Town Hall includes elements dating back to 1596 and has played an important part in Stroud’s history for more than four centuries. The proposed centre is designed to secure a sustainable future for the landmark while opening it to wider community use.
Plans include displays and activities exploring the area’s textile heritage, alongside contemporary textile practice, exhibitions, learning opportunities and creative events. The centre is expected to offer a programme for artists, makers and people of all ages.
Stroud District Council leader Cllr Chloe Turner said: “The Old Town Hall is one of Stroud’s most treasured historic buildings, and we are delighted to have found a proposal that both protects its future and strengthens its role within the community.”
She said the project supported the council’s Cultural Strategy and Action Plan by helping to break down barriers to culture and provide more equitable access to arts, heritage and creative opportunities across the district.
“The vision put forward by Stroud Valleys Artspace and Stroudwater Textile Trust will preserve an important heritage asset while creating new opportunities for learning, creativity, participation and economic activity,” she said. “We look forward to seeing the building brought to life in new ways for residents and visitors alike.”
Celebrating Stroud’s textile history
For Stroudwater Textile Trust, the agreement marks the culmination of an ambition lasting around 20 years to establish a permanent home for its collections and activities.
Trust chair Trevor Ford said the centre would help celebrate the international reputation once enjoyed by Stroud’s textile industry. He said the town’s fine woollen cloth had been exported and traded around the world.
“Our scarlet cloth was prized throughout Europe, North America and Scandinavia, and even in India and China, where the Chinese Emperor was proud to be robed in Stroud cloth,” Mr Ford said.
The trust has already developed and managed projects at Dunkirk Mill Museum and the Gigg Mill Weaving Shed. SVA has established creative communities at its John Street and Goods Shed venues in Stroud.
David Elford, an SVA trustee and project manager, said the partnership would create a venue with significance beyond the district.
“Textiles constitute a universal and creative language, with the power to engage and inspire people of all ages,” he said. SVA said it looked forward to establishing a regional venue that would champion textile designers and makers, bring their work to a wider audience and offer an inclusive programme for the community.
What will remain in the building?
The Old Town Hall arrangements will not remove every existing use. The meeting room will continue to be available for hire, providing an important source of income for the building.
Stroud District Council will also retain storage space for market equipment used to operate the Shambles Market. To support the building’s long-term sustainability, the council will fund replacement of the existing central heating system.
The scheme forms part of wider council ambitions to protect historic buildings, encourage community-led development and improve access to arts and culture across the district. The council recently supported SVA’s acquisition of the freehold of the listed Goods Shed, helping secure that building for community and creative use and strengthening the organisation’s ability to attract external funding.
