Tavistock Guildhall

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The Centre, formerly known as the Guildhall, is a prime example of history meeting modern preservation. Built in 1848 under Francis Russell, the 7th Duke of Bedford, it tackled rising crime in Tavistock caused by the 19th-century mining boom by combining a police station, fire station, and courthouse.

In 2012, the closure of the police station marked a shift. Recognizing its worth, Tavistock Town Council acquired the Grade II* listed building in 2014. With help from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, donors, and Tavistock Heritage Trust, a big restoration project began.

The goal wasn’t just to save the Guildhall, but to redefine its role for today. It reopened in December 2021 as the Tavistock Guildhall Heritage Centre, an official part of the UNESCO Cornwall & West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site. Now managed by Tavistock Town Council and Tavistock Heritage Trust, it’s a lively hub where history comes alive for visitors to enjoy. Explore how 19th-century mining changed Tavistock, which was once a major hub for copper and arsenic mining, through the interpretation centre in the building. When you visit, you can also experience the beautifully restored Victorian courtroom, now transformed into a one-of-a-kind events venue.

The Tavistock Guildhall holds a special role as a central hub for guided walks, lectures, workshops, courses, and entertaining events, offering people of all ages the chance to immerse themselves in and appreciate the area’s captivating heritage.