Shrewsbury-born Walking Dead artist Charlie Adlard backs growing campaign to save Shirehall
A world-reknowned artist has added his voice to calls to save the "modernist icon" Shirehall building in Shrewsbury.
Charlie Adlard, celebrated as the artist of the Walking Dead, has joined the campaign to save the county's Shirehall - describing it as a "unique example" of modernist architecture in the town.
The former home of Shropshire Council is currently vacant after the local authority moved into alternative accommodation in Shrewsbury town centre earlier this year.
Campaign groups have previously accused the authority of the 'long-term neglect' of Shirehall as part of its efforts to save money, an accusation rejected by Shropshire Council.
The authority says the Shirehall building costs £1.3 million a year to run and the move to Guildhall in Shrewsbury will help the council to achieve an estimated savings target of around £600,000 a year.
Now, with the future of the site uncertain, a local campaign movement has sprung up to try and preserve the 1960s building, once described as the "major monument to post-war Modernism" in Shropshire by architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner.
Mr Adlard, also well known for his work on the Judge Dredd and Savage comic book series, has also used his visual talents to create a striking image of the building in the form of a poster set to be used by the campaign.
“The Shirehall is a unique example of modernist architecture that should be preserved," he said.
"It has an historical significance equal to any building from any other past era and needs to be nurtured equally with them.”
Martina Chamberlain, from Shrewsbury Civic Society's campaign group to save the building, said the poster image will be circulated widely to help "galvanise support for the retention of the building".
"We are absolutely delighted that Charlie has used his artistic brilliance to produce this image, a picture is worth a thousand words and Charlie's drawing has captured the unique spirit of Shirehall." she said.
"I am hoping it will encourage people to look at the building again, see its amazing geometry, how it strives to capture the light, and the futuristic design that makes such a distinctive contribution to the town's skyline."
Later this year, the civic society is set to hold an exhibition of RIBA photos of Shirehall from when it opened in 1967, and is also hoping other artists and creators from around the area will get involved with the campaign to save the building.
"With the latest news and the county's most important 20th century building at severe risk of disappearing for ever, we are asking other artists in Shropshire to contribute their own artistic response and homages to the building," she added.
Anyone wishing to contibute to the campaign can contact the society via [email protected].
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