HAMPSHIRE CHRONICLE: The English Project visitor centre in Winchester is unlikely to open before the Cultural Olympiad in 2012, it has been revealed.
Volunteers leading the scheme had hoped to refit Woolstaplers Hall, a Victorian redbrick warehouse, in time for the surge of visitors to Britain. The warehouse is part of the Silver Hill Renaissance and work cannot start until the future of the £100m revamp of central Winchester becomes clear.
The scheme stalled earlier this year when developers, Thornfield Properties, called in the administrators. However, the English Project – which is run by academics and tourism experts – thinks the delay might work in its favour.
Its trustees include Evelyn Thurlby, who moved to Winchester after running the Eden Project in Cornwall. She said: “I feel it could be a blessing in disguise because it gives us a chance to prove our capabilities as an organisation.” She added: “Until we know what is happening with Silver Hill, we’re going to bide our time.”
Having longer before the centre opens would allow the English Project to become better known, she said. As a result it might be easier to attract funding, and in the meantime, several other activities are being planned, she added. “It’s looking unlikely that the centre will be open in 2012, but we’re looking to do something different instead.”
She said they wanted to hold an exhibition at Winchester Discovery Centre in Jewry Street on the ‘language of sport’. It would coincide with the London Olympics, which was originally mooted as a possible opening date for the English Project visitor centre.
When the plans to refit Woolstaplers Hall were made public in 2007, it was estimated that it could attract up to 100,000 visitors per year. The likely cost was placed at £10m, of which £6m was needed to buy the warehouse, which lies just off the High Street.
It was revealed in the Hampshire Chronicle last week that the Silver Hill scheme could be back on track thanks to a new deal. Henderson UK Property Fund is looking to take over Thornfield’s interest in the scheme, making it feasible again. In the meantime, the English Project aims to publish a new book next year called Location Lingo. It focuses on the informal names that residents have for the streets and landmarks, and a publisher is being lined up. It comes after the English Project published another book, Kitchen Table Lingo, last year.
For more details about the organisation and its events visit www.englishproject.org.
