Dawley Town Hall: Bid to secure building's future

Dawley Town Hall was originally built in the 19th Century as a temperance hall

A town hall which was closed last year could have new life breathed into it with a bid put together to fund a restoration.

Dawley Town Hall, in the Shropshire borough of Telford and Wrekin, was built as a temperance hall in 1873.

A regeneration partnership, including local schools and businesses, has been formed to put together a "six-figure" bid for lottery funding.

Dawley is one of the largest towns within the borough.

As in many other towns across the country, a temperance hall was set up in the 19th Century to encourage the area's mining community to come together, while also promoting abstinence from alcohol.

The Dawley Regeneration Partnership includes Telford technology company Capgemini, which has been encouraging its staff to volunteer on the ongoing restoration of the town hall.

Telford College of Arts and Technology, the Phoenix School and Great Dawley Parish Council are also involved in the project.

The group said it planned to turn the hall into "a thriving community facility" for local groups.