Abergavenny Town Councillor Tudor Thomas met with representatives of the Welsh Georgian Trust last week to discuss the fundraising efforts being made to save the historical building Gunter Mansions, in Cross Street. The building, which is in Councillor Thomas’ Priory Ward, is over 400 years old and represents a key period in Monmouthshire’s Catholic history.

The Welsh Georgian Trust has been busy trying to raise funds over the summer to purchase the building from the owners, in order to restore it and help regenerate that part of the town.

Town Councillor Tudor Thomas commented on the fundraising efforts: “It is so important to save this historical building for Abergavenny, and I am delighted that the Welsh Georgian Trust have persuaded the owners to sell the building to them, in order that they can undertake a sympathetic restoration that will really add something to this part of town.”. The Trust recently ran a Crowdfunding campaign that raised over £11,000 and attracted support from donors as far away as America. They are now waiting on the result of two major funding applications to London based trusts which, if successful, will mean they will be in position to purchase the building outright.

Chair of the Welsh Georgian Trust Andrew Beckett said “We are running out of time to save this building and so there is a lot resting on these applications. If we do succeed in buying the building, we then need to embark on a second major fundraising campaign to enable a full restoration and opening of the building. We are delighted that we have had so much support from local town organisations such as the Civic Society and the History Society, who understand the importance of this building.”