Historic Grade II-listed Temperance Hall undergoing major transformation

Bruce Sinclair, Local Democracy reporter

A historic town centre building which has been a cinema, bingo hall and wartime billet is being given a new lease of life.

Haverfordwest’s Grade II-listed Temperance Hall, which housed Dutch soldiers during the Second World War, is being transformed into a heritage printing centre, exhibition space, cafe and premises for private enterprises.

The community-led Haverfordwest Heritage initiative bought the St Mary Street building in February 2024, with work beginning later that year.

Planning permission for the redevelopment was granted by Pembrokeshire County Council last September.

The building has been renovated with support from the UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund, while current interior work is being funded by Pembrokeshire County Council using money from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund.

Changing uses

The Temperance Hall dates from 1888-89 and stands on the former site of the Dolphin Inn.

According to a supporting statement submitted by Acanthus Holden Architects, the site had initially been earmarked for a free library and museum before the hall was instead built as part of the 19th-century Temperance Movement.

The statement describes its architectural features as including a grand stuccoed facade, a large central arched fanlight with coloured glazing and a pediment bearing the words “1888 Temperance Hall”.

Its uses changed significantly during the following century.

The statement said it variously became “White’s Cinema de Luxe, a billet for Dutch soldiers during WWII, a bingo hall, a Masonic lodge, and an attempted Indian restaurant in the early 2000s”.

The building subsequently stood empty for more than 13 years.

During that period significant internal alterations were made, including the loss of its original tiered galleries and the addition of what the architects described as a “poorly designed mezzanine”.

New use

Under the redevelopment, the ground floor will become a Heritage Print Centre, with temporary exhibition space on the first floor and a cafe on the mezzanine.

Related private enterprises will occupy the basement, with access from Dark Street.

Haverfordwest Heritage’s aim is to bring vacant historic buildings back into use for learning, businesses, arts and cultural activities.

The planning statement said: “This scheme not only aims to bring the building back into meaningful use after over a decade of vacancy, but also does so in a way that respects and responds to its architectural, social and historic significance.”

Castle ward councillor Tom Tudor recently visited the project to see how work was progressing.

He said: “As county councillor for the Castle Ward it was lovely to be invited by Haverfordwest Heritage Officers Stuart Berry CEO and Phillip Evitt Director and Vice Chair to see what progress has been made on the Temperance Hall development project in Saint Mary’s Street in Haverfordwest.”

Cllr Tudor said he and Steve Jardine, from Pembrokeshire County Council’s regeneration department, were “very supportive and impressed with the project and extremely excited for the future aspirations of Haverfordwest Heritage team”.

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