Effort launched to preserve Bristol building featuring early Banksy works

The owners of a community center in Bristol, notable for housing early Banksy artworks on its interior, have listed the property for sale. Identified as The George Wills Memorial Hall, and commonly referred to as The Dug Out by local residents in Barton Hill, the facility carries a guide price of £650,000. In response, local residents initiated a petition, advocating for the preservation of the site as a community asset and opposing its sale. Wellspring Settlement, the current owners, stated that the building represents “a financial liability we can no longer afford to maintain.” The structure was inaugurated in 1926, following funding from tobacco magnate Sir George Wills, who aimed to support active lifestyles for Barton Hill residents. During the 1970s, it transformed into a music venue, featuring performances by groups such as Adam and the Ants, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and Massive Attack. Ten years subsequent to that, the Barton Hill Aerosol Art Project commenced at the location, converting sections of the premises into an expansive surface for graffiti artists. Notably, the building retains several of Banksy’s initial spray-painted artworks on its internal walls. More recently, the Barton Hill Amateur Boxing Club has occupied the premises. Alex Smith, a representative of the Barton Hill History Group, expressed his desire for the building to maintain its function as a resource for the local community. He stated, “The population of Barton Hill is growing exponentially, with hundreds of new houses planned nearby, you need to have community facilities for these people.” Smith further commented, “Barton Hill is going through a lot of changes and it is prime real estate up for grabs.” He concluded by saying, “We want to see it sold to someone who will look after it going forward and not exploit the site.” Wellspring Settlement indicated its openness to bids that would guarantee the property’s future advantage to the local community. The organization elaborated, stating, “The Dug Out is an old building which would take considerable time and investment to bring up to a good condition. The current financial climate is challenging for charities and Wellspring Settlement is no different.”