WITH the restoration of the historic Market House now complete and with the interpretation boards being installed, the building’s official civic relaunch is taking place next month.

The official relaunch event will be an all-day affair on=Saturday, November, 9, between 9am and 4.30pm.

The event coincides with the 300th anniversary of Ross-on-Wye’s benefactor John Kyrle’s death, 300 years ago in 1724.

As well as a wonderful array of market stalls around the town, that includes food and drink and arts and crafts, there will also be live music and street entertainment.

A hedgehog themed workshop will be operating under the arches of the Market House where visitors can learn all about the symbol of Ross as well as trying their hand at a few crafts and games.

There will also be 50 Hedgehog Hub starter kits to be given away which will include hedgehog food, pin badge and wildflower seeds.

The Made in Ross co-operative of local artists and craftsmen and women are moving back into their home on the upper floor of the 17th Century building and will be exhibiting some of the entries from its art competition which commemorates the life and times of John Kyrle.

The artist’s co-operative will also demonstrating their own eclectic mixture of work including painting, textiles, jewellery, woodcraft, ceramics and glass.

At 3pm the formal civic event will take place underneath the Market House for speeches and the official re-opening which will be followed by a performance by Ross-on-Wye Town Band.

Ross-on-Wye Town Council is inviting the townspeople all to attend the event and help in celebrate welcoming back the Market House, its history and its heritage.

Ross Town Council would like to acknowledge the project’s additional funders namely the National Lottery Players via National Lottery Heritage Fund who provided a grant of £112,000, The Pilgrim Trust and the Wolfson Foundation.

● The Kyrle in Time exhibition is being staged at St Mary’s Church and puts John Kyrle’s achievements into context of time and place. The church is also hosting a special JK300 Evensong at 5pm featuring the occasional choir Round Byrd and the music of the composer Henry Purcell.