Welcome

The Friends of the Guildhall, Newcastle under Lyme is a group determined to ensure the long term future of this iconic building dating from 1713 and to maintain it as a public building. It is Grade Two listed and one of the last historic buildings in the town. The voluntary organisation, Support Staffordshire, have the lease on the building but the Friends need to be prepared to take over at any time (with sufficient personnel and finance). FOTG obtained Charitable Incorporated Status in 2019.

The Friends had use of the Reception area until October 2025, providing a reception service for users of the building and also providing members with advice and information to members of the public (as per the charitable objective). They had responsibility for letting out the area for use in the evenings and at weekends. As of November 2025 Support Staffordshire have taken over control the Reception and intend to re-open it for public use in some form from December 2025.

These were the Reception services provided by the Friends and it is hoped will be resumed by Support Staffordshire

• Council food waste bags and caddies and blue recycling bags

• Computer access for services e.g. bus passes, blue badges, garden waste bin renewals etc, bus services, rail travel, Age UK etc.

• Leaflets and other information about support organisations including provision of Lions’ medical cannisters

• Leaflets for events and societies

• Some tourist information

• Wall display of historical information

• Printing and photocopying service

• Information about hiring the premises

Get involved

Are you interested in the Guildhall being maintained as a public building? If so, then consider becoming a Friend and building up our strength from a secondary position.

Become a friend

To become a Friend there’s a minimum annual fee of £10 or £15 for a couple. Any additional donations welcome. To join please click the link below and complete our membership form and send it back to 10 Wedgwood Avenue, Newcastle ST5 2JD.

Membership form

If you would like to gift aid your donation then please click the link below and complete the form.

Gift Aid form

N.B. If you would like to take out a standing order for your membership please click the link below and complete the form.

Standing order mandate

The current skills required are: publicity including social media and web-authoring skills, membership growth and retention and fund-raising.

The skills which will be needed if the Friends do take control of the building are: administrative – room hiring & contact with organisations, financial – book keeping etc., building maintenance

E-mail: fotguildhall@gmail.com

Tel: 07983983840

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