'Serious interest' in buying historic Traill Hall in Castletown
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PLANS to sell a historic building in Castletown could be realised. The B-listed Traill Hall has been generating interest since being put on the market but may be about to be sold.
George Gunn, the chairman of the Traill Hall Community Trust, said: "We have two interested parties, one of whom will be visiting later in the month to make a second viewing of the property. I feel that this is the most serious interest we have had and we look forward, hopefully, to a sale which will see the Traill Hall preserved and lived in, which, along with the church refurbishment across the road, will give that end of the village a welcome fresh look."
The hall, described as “unique and attractive,” was gifted to the village in 1867 by Margaret Traill – the daughter of Sheriff James Traill, who pioneered the local flagstone industry – as a public hall and reading room.
It was later used as a temporary school, a canteen and a youth club before becoming a store for the Norfrost freezer firm, but it has been unoccupied for over 27 years.
Attempts were made to get the hall back into public use, but they proved unsuccessful and it was decided at a meeting two years ago to put the building on the market. It was valued at over £60,000. The proceeds from any sale will go to local organisations.
The Traill Hall Community Trust, which is responsible for the property, expects that if it is sold it will be developed “within a certain timescale” so it is not left unoccupied.
The trust explored various options for the 19th-century building. One of the proposals was to turn it into a childcare hub, along with other facilities for local people, but that plan was dealt a blow when the Casper Club, the body behind the initiative, folded.
Efforts were also made to get the Landmark Trust and the Prince’s Regeneration Trust interested, but they were unwilling to take it on and it was agreed to put the hall up for sale. The trustees found it difficult to raise the money to get the premises back into public use. In 2012, it was estimated it would cost about £1 million.
If the building is sold it is expected another public meeting could be held to decide where the proceeds should go.
At the meeting in 2019, it was suggested the Drill Hall, the village youth club, the community café and Castlehill harbour could be among those to benefit from the sale of the premises.
