The historic building earmarked as Trowbridge Museum’s new home is considered ‘at risk’ by English Heritage and needs urgent repair work.

The organisation has anounced that Courtfield House, in Polebarn Road, has been placed on their Heritage at Risk Register, which highlights properties in need of urgent improvement.

The Grade II listed building, which was built in 1754 as a clothier’s house, has been empty since 2011 and has suffered water damage, smashed windows and graffiti on its wool store.

Trowbridge Museum hopes to give the property a new lease of life if its proposed move there from The Shires shopping centre goes through.

Clare Lyall, museum curator, said: “People see things being put on the at risk register and automatically think it is terrible news. It is not, it is highlighting how important this is to Trowbridge.

“The building reflects Trowbridge’s great heritage and the list is flagging up the need to ensure it is preserved.”

Since early 2012, there have been negotiations going on to transfer the property’s ownership from its current owners to a charitable trust and get the repairs started.

Trowbridge Museum hope to complete the move in 2016 which would allow them to house more displays including machinery, such as a Spinning Jenny, to highlight the South West’s involvement in the cloth industry. Mrs Lyall said: “We are moving forward but it needs a lot of careful planning, and negotiations are still ongoing at this stage.

“It is a great opportunity for us to show Trowbridge’s unique identity and put us on the map.”

So far, the museum has been guaranteed £114,000 from The Arts Council’s Renaissance Strategic Support Funding to help with the move.