Axiom and Odeon Buildings under threat

We are so lucky to live in Cheltenham which is such a beautiful and historic town. Although best known for its Regency architecture, Cheltenham also has a wealth of delightful Victorian terraces and other older interesting buildings which together add immensely to the character of the town.

Former Odeon building, Winchcombe Street

Winchcombe Street has long been a favourite street of mine for a particular reason. Nowhere else in Cheltenham is there such a diverse assortment of architecture styles in one place. This variety tells a story about the town in a way that reflects the story of the ordinary Cheltonian.

Former Axiom building, Winchcombe Street

In my view it is vital to protect the history of Cheltenham life which reflects more than just its origins as a Regency Spa town. A little part of the history of Winchcombe Street is reflected in an article I wrote ten years ago about the history of the former Axiom building - Axiom GSIA Article

Axiom Courtyard looking towards what is now Blockbusters - the former Horse Repository

I have since updated this article and was part of a wider group called the Granary Arts Project which tried to buy the Axiom building from Cheltenham Borough Council. This campaign was unsuccessful and the Council sold the building to Haysport Properties Ltd, a London based company.

Granary Arts Project logo

It is really disappointing that since the Axiom and Odeon were sold they have both been left empty for many years. The Axiom has now been derelict for 12 years. During this time the arts scene has lost so much.

Although there have been new ventures such as Meantime and Centre Arts there is no doubt that in particular the music scene has really taken a knock without the Axiom which was such a popular live music venue.

Back room music venue - taken after 2 years of dereliction

I feel passionately that local history needs to be cherished and have set up a petition calling for the Axiom and Odeon to be saved from demolition.

Sketch of the potential use of the Axiom's Gallery Space - by Aylwin Sampson

An article in today's Echo demonstrates fairly clearly that the Civic Society have no attachment to locally important buildings as their Chairman seems happy with the thought of the Odeon being demolished.

Workers from Ride and Co, in the courtyard of the Axiom building

But demolition and redevelopment would be a cop out and would take away another chunk of Cheltenham's historic town centre. We have lost enough old buildings whose replacements are often boring modern designs that look very tatty after only  a few years.

The rear of the warehouse part of the building - personally I quite like the random brickwork

The Axiom is now in a pretty desperate state of repair. There was a leak in the guttering at the time it was sold and since then the roof has got more problems. It is now a glorified pigeon coup filled with pigeon droppings. The building is being damaged by not being weather proof or pigeon proof. I understand that part of the first floor has collapsed just behind the front door.

Gallery Space with original line shaft in situ

Staff of the Axiom 

But essentially it is an incredibly well built construction. A lot of people would love it to be an arts centre once again. I don't think that would be possible - the Granary Arts Project along with many others before us tried and failed to set out a solid business plan to keep the Axiom building as Cheltenham's Community Arts Centre.

Beautiful sketch of the potential of the Axiom Courtyard by Aylwin Sampson

I said 10 years ago in the GSIA article about the Axiom "It is sincerely hoped that it will be restored rather than demolished by whoever buys it and that the future holds a place where we will still be able to peer curiously through the gates of this old grain warehouse into the cobbled courtyard and into another world."


This sadly hasn't happened but I am not giving up yet.