The Lansdown Hall and Gallery in Stroud began life as a Temperance Hall, after it was built in the 19th century. Temperance Halls were spaces set up in communities as areas for meetings and gatherings, but with a strict no alcohol policy. The Temperance Hall in Stroud was developed just as the town was entering prosperity in 1879 and has been standing ever since.

Nowadays, the building is a grade 2 listed structure, owned by Stroud Town Council and runs as a non-profit organisation.

Nimue Brown, a Stroud local who works at the venue, explains what she thinks makes the hall so special.

She said: “The hall is a really distinctive building. It’s got great big turrets and beautiful windows that create really interesting lighting inside.

“It’s a great space because downstairs we’ve got exhibitions on all the time, and upstairs we’ve got a stage and the hall which is perfect for dancing, classes and concerts.”

The gallery has regular weekly classes held by locals, from tai chi and fitness classes to singing, dancing and drama programmes. As a non-profit organisation, Nimue says that the support of the community is key.

She added: “We’re a charity and so we are simply running to stay open. It’s very much a venue that can be hired by non-professionals who maybe couldn’t afford or handle the logistics of a professional venue.

“We’re well supported by the community and the council, and most festivals that come to Stroud, like the book festival, usually hold some events in the hall. We always have local artists displaying their work in the gallery, from paintings and illustrations, to sculptures and textiles and much more.”

One regular club that Nimue is particularly proud of is the monthly film club.

She said: “They don’t show new releases but rather films you usually wouldn’t see anywhere else, really interesting films from all around the world.

“It’s a couple of quid to join and then you pay for tickets on the door, so a lot cheaper than a normal cinema! It’s a really nice, more intimate space for watching films too.”