Care company moves into regenerated Glastonbury factory

The Baily's Buildings, on Beckery Old Road in Glastonbury, served as one of the town's main employers until its closure in the 1980s.

Originally operating as a tannery, glove and rug manufacturer in the 1800s, the Grade II* listed buildings later specialised in creating sporting goods - including boxing gloves worn by Henry Cooper, Muhammad Ali and Floyd Patterson.

The Beckery Island Regeneration Trust (BIRT - which looks after the two buildings), Beard Construction and the Dowlas Property Group have been working closely for more than three years to transform the western building into bespoke business units, backed by around £7m of central government funding via the Glastonbury town deal.

Following the site's official opening in mid-July, Candlelight Homecare Services has made the building its new headquarters, with more than 60 workers and carers now calling the site home.

The company will managed its four main branches from the site, providing a range of personal care services for elderly and vulnerable adults.

Chief executive Ken Marshall said: "We absolutely love our new home at the Baily’s Building; it’s just what was needed for us to grow as a business.

"This move will open up so many more opportunities for us, from offering career paths for younger people and inspiring the next generation of carers, to developing and nurturing our existing colleagues, and creating an even stronger, more connected team."

Cherry Catley-Day, who established the company almost 40 years ago, added: "From a kitchen table in Butleigh in 1988 to this wonderful new home in Glastonbury - what an incredible journey.

"May this building be filled with ideas, opportunity, team work and above all, exceptional care for many years to come."

Candlelight Homecare Services' offices in the Baily's Buildings in Glastonbury (Image: Glastonbury Town Deal)

Rather than stretch the government funding over the entire project and leave the building empty until its completion, work on the building has been completed incrementally, allowing each individual unit to be extensively marketed as construction moves forward.

With each new section that is finished and let, rental income can be recirculated back into the building - with BIRT currently awaiting the result of a bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund to aid with this next phase.

Going forward, additional toilets will be provided on the ground floor along with space for a café and additional flexible offices or workspaces.

BIRT chairman Ian Tucker said: "Welcoming people back into the Baily’s Building has been decades in the making, and I am so proud that we have turned that dream into a reality.

"As a listed building, we have been sympathetic to the factory’s heyday and maintained some of the fascinating original features, and when you now see the inside of the building you’ll realise why keeping that history and heritage alive was so important.

The Baily's Buildings in Glastonbury (Image: Daniel Mumby)

"What we have now created is a fabulous, welcoming space for local businesses and start-ups.

"Our next steps are now to explore further funding opportunities to bring the other Baily’s Buildings into use."

Anyone wishing to get involved with the project, or to rent out other parts of the Baily’s Buildings, should visit www.beckeryislandregenerationtrust.co.uk.

Glastonbury town deal chairman Rob Taylor added: "The regeneration and re-purposing of the Baily’s Building has been a great success story.

"Those behind the project have shown great passion for bringing this area of Glastonbury back into beneficial use, and I’m pleased that it could be supported through the Glastonbury town deal.

“This project truly epitomises the town deal: preserving Glastonbury’s unique heritage, restoring an existing building, and bringing important spaces back into use."