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Image above: The exterior of Plas Gunter Mansion. Credit: Plas Gunter Mansion Trust.
In its landmark 50th anniversary year, the Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) is delighted to announce that it has now made its 1000th loan offer. The new loan - which marks a significant lending milestone for the AHF - has been offered through the Heritage Impact Fund, and will help bridge grant payments received in arrears, supporting the repair and refurbishment of Plas Gunter Mansion in Abergavenny.
Located in a prominent position within Abergavenny’s conservation area, Plas Gunter Mansion is a Grade II*-listed townhouse of exceptional historic interest. Formerly belonging to the Gunter family, it played a major role in the political and religious struggles of the late 17th century, and contains within its attic a secret chapel where illegal Catholic masses could be celebrated.
The secret chapel was only rediscovered in 1907 when works were carried out. Over the next few decades, the remainder of the house languished as small retail units, and, by the late 20th century, Plas Gunter had fallen into severe disrepair and faced the likelihood of being lost entirely.
Plas Gunter Mansion Trust plan to restore and redevelop Plas Gunter to create a welcoming cultural and community hub in the heart of this Welsh market town. This will comprise of flexible meeting/activity space, commercial units, office accommodation, dedicated facilities for Trust staff and volunteers, and an exhibition that will for the first time tell the story of Welsh Catholics during the turbulent 17th century. The garden will also be restored and enhanced to provide a flexible outdoor setting for community activities, events, pop-up commercial uses, craft fairs and performances. The revitalisation of this building, together with these identified sustainable new uses, will ensure that it becomes a space for learning, wellbeing and community connection, securing its future for many generations to come.
Having previously supported the development phase of this project, awarding four grants between 2020 and 2024, the AHF is now pleased to have been able to provide a Heritage Impact Fund loan of £100,000 to help Plas Gunter Mansion Trust manage cashflow during the project.
This Heritage Impact Fund loan, made possible by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Cadw, will provide short-term cashflow support while capital grant funding is drawn down. Many grant programmes reimburse costs after expenditure has been incurred, and AHF loans help organisations bridge this gap, ensuring projects can continue to progress and that contractors can be paid while grant claims are processed. The £100,000 loan will play an important role in supporting the timely delivery of the repair and refurbishment works at Plas Gunter Mansion.
Whether you need early-stage project funding, support with capital works, or short-term finance to manage project cashflow, the AHF may be able to help. For more information, please visit our Funding Page.