Foley House up for Grabs

Foley House

There are so many beautiful old buildings in Pembrokeshire towns that have fallen into disrepair. Haverfordwest has more than its fair share, but at least one of these old buildings is about to get a new lease of life.

Built as a residence in 1790 by John Nash, who was also the architect for Buckingham Palace, Foley House was home to the Foley family and boasts guests of the time such as Lord Nelson.

The property went on to be owned by wine merchants and was sold to Pembrokeshire County Council in 1947. Plans to turn the building into a museum were ultimately unsuccessful, so the building became part of Taskers School and later magistrate court offices. Now the building is to be made a community asset by way of a community asset transfer, and the council is seeking business plans from prospective non-profit owners.

The asset transfer plan is in keeping with the Welsh Government’s White Paper on Reforming Local Government: Power to Local People and the local authority is asking charities and not-for-profit organisations that are interested to have a plan for the building that will benefit the local community.

Some work has been undertaken in the past that has not necessarily benefited the building, and the property is in need of extensive repair and refurbishment that it hopes will be undertaken comprehensively and sensitively, considering the building’s age and history.

Organisations interested in taking on this project should apply to the council’s property help desk by noon on 24 March.