TRUSTEES of the derelict Assize Court in Devizes are getting close to picking their short list of architects who will come up with a £10 million plan to transform the neglected building.

The Devizes Assize Court Trust met last week to discuss bids received from around 60 architects from across the country.

They are expected to draw up a short list of candidates within a few weeks and the chosen few will then visit the old court house and outline their plans for how it can be turned into a home for Wiltshire Museum and be used as a community space.

Museum director David Dawson said: “It all takes time but I can’t wait to see what the architects are going to come up with. It is going to be very exciting to take that step and then the fundraising campaign can start in earnest.

“Until you have got something to show people it is very difficult to start raising a lot of money.”

Grants have already come from the Architectural Heritage Fund and Historic England to allow Gaigers to carry out tens of thousands of pounds of maintenance work to make the building water tight.

On Tuesday estate agent John Robinson, who is a director of Hunter French in Devizes visited the Assize Court with trustee Robert Hunt-Grubbe after paying over £900 as the first instalment of his firm’s fundraising for the Assize Court appeal.

Hunter French has pledged to give £100 for every completed house purchase in 2019. He said: “At the moment house completions can take some time but we had a very good months in July with 20.

“I would hope we would donate about £8,000 by the end of the year of fundraising.”

Mr Hunt-Grubbe thanked Mr Robinson for the donation and said it set an excellent example to other businesses in the town and kept the Assize Court appeal at the front of people’s minds.

He said: “We have a very long way to go with this project and it is important that we keep reminding people of what we are aiming for.”

In November the newly formed Devizes Assize Court Trust under the chairmanship of Bowood owner Lord Landsdowne bought the crumbling edifice from businessman Suleiman Dockrat for £475,000 after years of wrangling.

Architects bidding for the project have to include repair and restoration of damaged architectural elements, extensions to include a café, kitchen and toilets along, specialist lighting and museum displays in their costs.