Yate Town Council Offices, Poole Court, Yate

Image: © Jaggery Taken: 10 Oct 2012

Poole Court was built in the early 1850s as a grand family home, situated in the middle of green fields just off Turnpike Road (now Station Road). During the First World War, Poole Court was used by the Flying Corps as an Officers Mess after a ministry maintenance base had been established here in Yate. After the war, it remained empty until 1925 when it was bought by George Parnall and Co. and used as offices for the aeroplane industry’s design staff. In 1932, Augustus and Hedley Newman bought the property and Poole Court reverted to being a home. However, this magnificent building was lost from public sight for many years because of the success of the flourishing electrical machinery business that developed on the site around the house. After Hedley Newman moved out of the house, the building was used as offices. In 1988, property developers took over the entire site. To prevent the building from being demolished, Yate Town Council entered into negotiations with the developers and the former Northavon District Council, in an effort to both save and obtain the property for the benefit of the community. Following a public consultation, the Town Council agreed to restore the building and use it for community and civic functions, to include the Register Office for marriages. The building was bought by the Town Council for £1! After alteration and restoration, the building was officially opened in September 1990 by Herr Reiner Wegner, the Burgermeister of Bad Salzdetfurth, Yate's twin town in Germany. The building now houses the Town Council Offices and a number of community rooms, which are let to groups and organisations.

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