St Ives Town Council’s £3.1 million project to restore and improve the historic Guildhall building is taking a major step forward with the exciting news that building firm, Classics Builders, are now onsite.
The Guildhall Renewal project celebrates the historic building’s rich past, confirming its role as the civic and cultural heart of the town and re-imagined for future generations.
Since closing its doors in 2023, there has been plenty going on behind the scenes, including extensive opening up works which informed the final design and budget.
Councillor Kirsty Arthur Chair of the Facilities Committee said: “It’s really great to see the building works begin on site. After years of planning, this is the moment that signifies that things are really happening. I can’t wait to see how it progresses, and I know that it will be a great success story for the community when it is finished.”
An important element of this first phase is the temporary relocation of the Barbara Hepworth sculpture, ‘Dual Form’ to Kresen Kernow in Redruth. Barbara Hepworth originally gifted the sculpture to St Ives after being granted the Freedom of the Town in 1968. To minimise the risk of damage to the sculpture it was decided to temporarily move it while the works are taking place. The Town Council wanted to ensure the sculpture would continue to be on public display during its relocation and not put into storage. This will be achieved by the move to Kresen Kernow which is looking forward to welcoming the sculpture.
Members of Barbara Hepworth’s family and Trustees have been consulted on the plans for the external landscaping redesign and support the temporary relocation of the sculpture to facilitate the works.
This initial phase will also include removal of the entrance canopy and installation of site boundaries. As with all large-scale capital works projects, there will be increased traffic on Street an Pol as the contractors move onsite. The Town Council will be working closely with Classic Builders and their site team to keep disruption to a minimum.
The Guildhall Renewal Project is one of nine St Ives Town Deal projects. St Ives Town Deal Board, in partnership with Cornwall Council, successfully bid for a Town Deal worth £19.9 million to support a range of projects that will contribute to the town’s regeneration and boost the local economy. Cornwall Council is the lead authority for Cornwall Town Deals and supports the governance role of the St Ives Town Deal Board and administrates the fund.
We thank everyone in advance for their patience and support. We all miss the buzz of activity in the hall, with Classic now moving onsite the anticipated reopening is early 2026.
If you’d like to be kept up to date with the project please visit our website to sign up to the e-newsletter. You can also follow the project on social media @stivesguildhall or pop into the Town Council Guildhall reception for the latest information.
Main Image: The Guildhall Renewal Project Team, Councillors with Barbara Hepworth Sculpture ‘Dual Form’, Left to Right: Charlotte Tomlinson (Special Projects Officer St Ives Town Council), Léon Phillips (Guildhall General Manager-Technical Lead St Ives Town Council), Councillor Andrew Mitchell, Mayor Councillor Johnnie Wells, Councillor James Ryall, Councillor Ken Messenger, Councillor Michael Evamy, Councillor Luke Rogers, Kasia Drinkwater (MRICS Project Surveyor Classic Builders) , Warren Litwinski (Project Manager Classic Builders) , Emma Gibson (Head of Culture & Community St Ives Town Council), David Pengelly (Contracts Manager Classic Builders)
Image Left: Left to Right – Kasia Drinkwater (MRICS Project Surveyor Classic Builders), Warren Litwinski (Project Manager Classic Builders), Councillor Ken Messenger, David Pengelly (Contracts Manager Classic Builders), Mayor Councillor Johnnie Wells.
Image Right: The Guildhall Renewal Project Team – Left to Right: Charlotte Tomlinson (Special Projects Officer St Ives Town Council), Louise Dwelly (Town Clerk St Ives Town Council), David Burne (Purcell Architects), Mayor Councillor Johnnie Wells; Jason Congdon (Classic Builders), David Pengelly (Contracts Manager Classic Builders), Niall Philips (Purcell Architects), Emma Gibson (Head of Culture & Community St Ives Town Council), Léon Phillips (Guildhall General Manager-Technical Lead St Ives Town Council) Image: Luke Dimech
