Latest news with #Assize
Powys County Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Powys County Times
New flats at Presteigne's Judge's Lodging to open in 2026
TWO new flats are being added to the Judge's Lodging museum, the award-winning visitor attraction in Presteigne. The Retiring Rooms @ the Judge's Lodging will be available to let for holidays and short breaks from the spring of 2026. After five years of research, fundraising and planning, the project began on January 6 this year, with specialist builders at Reynolds Conservation starting the transformation of the former housekeeper's flat, which had been used for storage and workrooms in recent years. With stunning colour pallets for each flat and light fittings inspired by the museum's period rooms, the furnishing plan even utilises some of the building's original furnishings not used since its closure as an Assize court and lodging in 1971. The flats will be furnished with all of the humour and attention to detail the museum has become known for. There will be information about former inhabitants, bespoke cosy reading areas stocked with fascinating books and a crime-related games selection. There's even a new bilingual logo, created by local artist Richard Studer. The project's core aim is to bring to life an underused part of the building as a way of generating income to support the building and help keep it a popular tourist attraction going forward. The Judge's Lodging is a totally independent museum, run by its own charity. The work is being supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the UK Government's Community Ownership Fund, the Welsh Government and the Architectural Heritage Fund. As part of the project, a fantastic new collection workroom and large museum attic store are being created, ensuring that staff and volunteers have the facilities they need to care for Presteigne community collection. The work has also added to the knowledge of the building and its former inhabitants. Digging in the garden to create a space for the builders to work triggered the discovery of a Victorian rubbish dump, with hundreds of fragments of bottles and jars – some still intact. A glass plate photograph of a Victorian woman, buried three feet below the surface, was also found. These and other discovered items will go on display this autumn in the tearoom. A special open weekend on Saturday and Sunday, August 23 and 24, from 11am to 4pm, will allow visitors to see progress so far, with staff and volunteers available. The Judge's Lodging is a member of MWT Cymru, an independent organisation representing more than 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Powys, Ceredigion and southern Eryri (Snowdonia).
Business News Wales
5 days ago
- Business
- Business News Wales
Historic Presteigne Museum Expands with Two New Holiday Apartments
Two new flats are being added to The Judge's Lodging Museum, the award-winning visitor attraction in Presteigne. The Retiring Rooms @ The Judge's Lodging will be available to let for holidays and short breaks from spring 2026. After five years of research, fundraising and planning, the project is underway with specialist builders at Reynolds Conservation starting the transformation of the former Housekeeper's Flat, which had been used for storage and workrooms. Colour palletes for each flat and light fittings are inspired by the museum's period rooms, and the furnishing plan utilises some of the building's original furnishings not used since its closure as an Assize court and lodging in 1971. There will be information about former inhabitants, bespoke reading areas stocked with books and a crime-related games selection. A new bilingual logo has been created by local artist Richard Studer. The project's core aim is to bring to life an underused part of the building as a way of generating income to support the building. The Judge's Lodging is an independent museum, run by its own charity. The work is being supported by National Lottery Heritage Fund, UK Government's Community Ownership Fund, Welsh Government and the Architectural Heritage Fund. As part of the project, a new Collection workroom and large museum attic store are being created, ensuring that staff and volunteers have the facilities they need to care for Presteigne Community Collection. The work has also added to the knowledge of the building and its former inhabitants. Digging in the garden to create a space for the builders to work triggered the discovery of a Victorian rubbish dump, with hundreds of fragments of bottles and jars – some still intact. A glass plate photograph of a Victorian woman, buried three feet below the surface, was also found. These and other discovered items will go on display this autumn in the tearoom. A special open weekend on Saturday and Sunday, August 23 and 24, from 11am to 4pm, will allow visitors to see progress so far, with staff and volunteers available. The Judge's Lodging is a member of MWT Cymru, an independent organisation representing more than 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Powys, Ceredigion and Southern Eryri (Snowdonia).
The Independent
02-04-2025
- The Independent
Briton `distraught' after Cyprus court acquits five men accused of raping her
A British tourist is 'really shocked, sad and distraught' after charges against the five Israeli men she accused of gang-raping her in a hotel were dropped by a court in Cyprus, her lawyer has said. On Monday, a three-member Assize court, sitting as a district court in Paralimni, ruled the testimony of the 20-year-old had not been credible as it 'lacked coherence and contained numerous substantial contradictions', The Guardian reported. Police said she had picked the men out of a line-up as having raped her during a hotel pool party in the coastal resort town of Ayia Napa on September 3 2023. The defendants, who were then aged 19 and 20, had pleaded not guilty to all the charges. The woman is 'really sad and really upset' about the acquittals which saw all of the men walk free from court, according to her lawyer Michael Polak. He said: 'She is openly gay, not interested in men at all and the defence was that she consented to group sex with these Arab Israeli men who do not speak English. 'So she is really shocked by the verdict.' The woman, who cannot be legally identified, was 'highly distressed' as she told police that she was 'taken by force' during a party and was then sexually assaulted in a hotel room, it was reported. Mr Polak, who is director of the Justice Abroad organisation, added he is 'not surprised' by the ruling. It comes after the European Court of Human Rights ruling earlier this year that Cyprus' law enforcement authorities failed to live up to their obligation to thoroughly and effectively investigate a British teenager's claims. Mr Polak has written to the Attorney General in Cyprus to appeal against the verdict in this week's case. He said: 'We think one of the higher courts should look at it and look at it properly,' before adding: 'We'll see what happens but we don't have great hope.' Mr Polak said it is 'very difficult to assess' the criticisms that have been made about the 20-year-old's testimony, saying he has yet to see the full judgment. He added: 'But I do know that she has no interest in men or entering into a group sex act people she did not know or speak the same language – none of that has been mentioned.'
