Where We Are

You can find us at the historic Old Town Hall Site on Grafton Street in Sandown on the beautiful Isle of Wight. We are conveiniently located whether you are traveling by bike, car, train or bus; with cycleroutes, parking, station and stops a short distance from our door. The Island is a Unesco Biosphere Reserve with The Bay Area one of the largest stetches of sandy beach in the country.

Directions

Getting to Grafton Street / Sandown /PO36 8JJ

By Public Transport:
Sandown is served by frequent trains on the Island Line, with the station just a short 5–10 minute walk from Grafton Street — ideal if you’re arriving from Ryde, Brading, Lake or Shanklin. Local bus services also stop nearby on Fitzroy Street and Broadway, putting you within easy reach of the studios.

By Car & Parking:
If you’re driving, there are pay-and-display car parks within easy walking distance of Grafton Street, including New Road, Fort Street, St John’s Road and Station Avenue. Allow a little extra time for parking on busy days ( If you or one of your party has special considerations with regard to parking or access needs, we have limited car parking to the front of the building which we can reserve for you, please email graftstudiosiow@gmail.com)

Cycling & Local Trails:
For cyclists, Sandown is connected to a network of scenic routes. The Red Squirrel Trail offers mostly traffic-free cycling across the island and links Sandown with nearby towns like Shanklin, Merstone and Newport — perfect for a leisurely ride before or after your visit.
There’s also a Sandown circular cycle route around the town and coastal paths that make for a pleasant short ride with sea views.

Accessability

A short story of the building so far…

Like a synopsis of a classic Victorian tale by Dickens. Prosperity to decline - dispair to restoration.

  • Beginning

    Commissioned by the local board of health in 1866,The Town Hall stood as a proud reminder of Sandown’s Victorian ambitions and reflected the civic pride in a growing seaside resort. The building was designed by local architect Thomas Dowell in the neoclassical style and completed in 1869 at a cost of £1,278. In 1873 the celebrated artist Henry Tooth decorated the building with a multi-coloured ceiling. Influenced by the groundbreaking designer Christopher Dresser, his work at Sandown Town Hall was a groundbreaking example of decorative art at the time, produced at low cost with the possibility of inspiring similar decoration in people's homes.

  • Middle

    The town's population grew significantly, largely due to the fishing industry, and Sandown became an urban district in 1894 with the town hall serving as its headquarters alongside the newly built Firestation constructed to the right of the building. The building served as the seat of local government until the early 1940s when administrative functions moved to Shanklin.

    The Town Hall's civic life continued as a popular event, music and dramatic arts venue into the 1960s. In the 70’s it passed over to District Council Ownership and County Council in the 80’s. After decades of varied use, including as a bowling alley and youth club, the building sadly fell into disrepair and stopped being used in 2017.

  • End

    The Town Hall could no longer be occupied safely and it sat empty for 7 years. The building was in a sorry state and its condition deteriorated further, with the only locals using the building being the thriving population of pigeons.

    The building's fortunes changed dramatically in 2023 when the Isle of Wight Council secured a £3.1 million grant from the UK Government's Youth Investment Fund. Awarded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to restore the building and support a youth community programme; helping ensure this Victorian Grade II listed gem will serve future generations once again; and not pigeons.

  • Beginning

    GRAFT are excited to be a part of this fresh start for The Old Town Hall site and support Sandown’s arts, culture, heritage and its investment in young people.

    Our neighbours in the building, The Bay Youth Project, provide exciting activities and a space to hang out to those aged 10-18 who live or are educated in Sandown, Lake or Shanklin. We are so happy that rental of the building goes towards supporting their provision.

    GRAFT would like to thank IW Council Town Regeneration Officer, Laura Cansdale, for all her hard work on spearheading the transformation of this building and supporting our proposal to become a part of the sites future.