Heritage trust proposes move to unused historic Hemel Hempstead building

The Dacorum Heritage Trust, which is currently based in a converted fire station, is seeking to move its museum to the Bury in Hemel Hempstead.

The Bury, a Grade II listed former wedding and birth certificate site, has been disused since 2024. Dacorum Heritage Trust argues that it could bring the property back into public use by using it as a centre for the entire borough.

The trust said its scheme would safeguard the well-known Dacorum building for future generations. It argues that it is a suitable home for its museum collections and that it would open the centre for community projects, and provide Hemel Hempstead with a distinctive cultural destination.

Dacorum Borough Council has been contacted by the trust and urged to support the scheme. A spokesperson for the authority told The Hemel Hempstead Gazette: “The Bury is a significant Grade II listed heritage asset which is currently being considered as part of the council's strategic asset review.

“A range of potential options for the building's future is being explored, including a proposal from Dacorum Heritage Trust. All proposals will be assessed on their merits, and no decisions have been made at this stage.

“The Bury has been vacant for some time due to the substantial investment required to bring it back into use. The council is committed to engaging with all interested parties to help identify the most appropriate and sustainable long-term use for the building.

“The council remains committed to securing a viable future for this important heritage asset and will provide further updates as the review progresses.”

Dacorum Heritage Trust wants the council’s support to develop designs, undertake surveys, test the business case, consult partners and communities, and seek external funding. The trust says it does not require a financial commitment from the planning authority at this stage.

Melissa Linsey, Dacorum Heritage Trust museum manager, said: “The Bury offers an exciting opportunity to protect one of Hemel Hempstead’s most significant historic buildings while creating a welcoming visitor centre for Dacorum’s heritage. We want local people, schools, volunteers and

community groups to be at the heart of shaping what comes next.”

The trust is asking residents and community groups to lobby local councillors and ask Dacorum MPs to back the campaign. The charity is also asking residents to spread the word regarding the newly launched campaign. People are encouraged to look out for future community events and consultations linked to the project.

In 2024, the year the Bury was closed down by the council, a petition was launched calling for its retention as a certificate site. Scott Saunders, who set up the petition wrote: “I strongly call for the return of the Bury to its initial glory. As it once used to, it should again handle marriages, births and deaths. “Not only will this decision preserve a deeply rooted community sentiment, but it will also make an effective use of an existing infrastructure, providing easy access to these essential services for our community.”

This petition garnered over 2,000 signatures with residents sharing experiences they had at the Bury, many of whom were married at the protected Hemel Hempstead site.