Funding Boost For The Island Site As The Forge On The Old Brunswick Site Is Re-Lit

Gwynedd Council has welcomed the announcement that the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has earmarked a further £3.3 million to help regenerate the former Slate Quay on Caernarfon waterfront, known as the Island Site, transforming it into a vibrant shopping and tourist hotspot fit for the craftsmen of today. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Caernarfon Harbour Trust has already received funding from a range of sources including the HLF and the Welsh Government’s Vibrant and Viable Places: Tackling Poverty Fund to help develop the site as part of the Caernarfon Town and Waterfront Regeneration Initiative, formed of Gwynedd Council, Cadw and Welsh Government and partners. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As part of the Regeneration Initiative for the Town, work is progressing on a series of projects along the waterfront and in the town that will aim to ensure that Caernarfon builds on its strengths and becomes a globally iconic destination with the World Heritage Site 13th century castle a stunning backdrop. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

One of these projects, STAMP Caernarfon – funded by the Arts Council of Wales’ Ideas: People: Places fund integrates artists, the community and the arts within the wider regeneration developments of old building and specific sites. The project has worked with the community and artists Something & Son to identify way for people to start re-using the site. As part of the project, strong community engagement showed a clear desire to make use of the forge once again, and has captured the imagination of the local community and was successfully re-lit last Wednesday, 11 May for the first time in a decade. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Mandy Williams-Davies, Gwynedd Council’s Cabinet Member for the Economy said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Caernarfon is a town rich in history with strong heritage and cultural assets, and we want to ensure that it has a strong and vibrant future. The Council, alongside its partners in the Town & Waterfront Partnership have worked tirelessly and it is great to see the efforts of all involved beginning to bear fruit. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This announcement is a major step forward for the future of the Island Site, and the work ongoing to reignite the forge underlines the sites’ potential and act as a catalyst for the rebirth of the entire Waterfront.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There will be an Open Day on the Site during the Caernarfon Food Festival, Saturday, 14 May, between 10am and 5pm, with a warm welcome to all. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​