Department Ryde: There’s something big happening (photos)

There’s something big happening in Ryde. Something exciting and inspiring. Something that is building towards creating a space in Ryde for everyone to ‘feel welcome in’.

News OnTheWight are the first people to take a look inside and can give you a sneaky peek at what the untouched interior looks like (you can click on the photos to see the HD versions) – and what it’s hoped will become a vibrant and important creative hub and events venue: Department.

Jump down to see the 30+ photos

Former Packs building
If you’ve walked or driven past the former Elizabeth Packs building (on Cross Street at the top of Union Street, Ryde) over the last couple of years, you will have noticed some spectacular window displays.

You might have been wondering who was responsible for these and how they even managed to get inside the building – From the current underwater scene with iridescent marine life, or large white and red roses supporting the England football team, to the ‘Spring Windows’ cardboard sculptures that spoke to the heritage of the building (see below).

Evokes many fond memories
The much-loved Packs building means a great deal to many Islanders: Those who were taken there as children, brides choosing their wedding dresses, or the many who ate at the cafe.

Just thinking about the central staircase with the Elizabeth Pack sign leading up to the next level with its floor to ceiling windows will evoke fond memories for many Islanders.

Ambitious plans from Shademakers
The building is now undergoing its next lease of life with ambitious plans from a group of Isle of Wight artists and makers.

Shademakers are one of the leading carnival groups in Europe. They are an Island-based artist-led company and if you’ve stood on the street and watched a carnival parade pass through your town, you’ve probably seen their troupe dancing past whilst donning spectacular costumes (see some of the videos below for a flavour).

You man have been to their annual Hullabaloo event that takes place each spring in Sandown, and if you have you’ll appreciate the high quality of their work and why it’s so exciting that Shademakers are behind the plans to restore and regenerate this important building in Ryde that has such a rich heritage of makers.

How it came about
The Packs building has been empty for several years, following the sad passing of the owner, Elizabeth Pack.

Sharon George, the artistic director at Shademakers, had been walking past the building day after day with her dog and wondering what might happen to it.

A chance comment to her next door neighbour, led to Sharon being given a tour of the building and before she knew it, Shademakers were investing their own money and signing a ten-year lease for this vast property.

A space for all
They got to work straight away and started forming plans of how the building could be used to:

create a space to display and perform,
to connect local makers with the community,
to learn and exchange skills,
to dream big, a space for the local community to thrive
and most importantly of all, a space for all to feel welcome in.

As well as taking a risk by investing their own money – a difficult decision given the massive impact Coronavirus has had on their commissions over the last 18 months – the Architectural Heritage Fund have seen the benefit of Shademakers’ ambitions and are supporting the Department project with a grant of £68,500.

This will ensure that detailed plans (see below) to restore the former department store building can be further developed.

The Department vision
News OnTheWight was recently given a tour of the building and an insight into the ambitious plans.

The vision for Department starts on the ground floor with a gallery/event space, a ‘Made in Ryde’ shop where makers can sell their wares and pop-up units in the window for artists to display their work.

At the back of the premises there’ll be a fully equipped workshop, along with an events barn, which doubles up as a maker barn for large-scale projects (see the image below).

Up on the second floor visitors can dine in at the new cafe, which will boast an outdoor terrace above the barn. There’ll also be a communal studio space, community meeting room, as well as specialist sculpture and photography studios.

The top floor – which instantly felt like stepping back into the late 19th Century – will be home to the Shademakers design studio and workspace. Whilst walking around the empty space, you can really sense the incredible heritage of makers in the building. It felt very special.

All floors will be accessible via a new lift.

Support from Turner Works
The initial plans and feasibility designs were created by Turner Works, a group or architects who are well-known for their clever reuse of space, reinvigorating old buildings.

Simon at Turner Works threw his support into the project and despite the limitations of lockdown etc, managed to put together a stunning plan for the creative hub.

It oozes heritage
The building absolutely oozes heritage, and we can’t imagine the number of people who have passed over the threshold since it first came into use around 1888.

There’ll will be more to come on this project over the next few months, but in the meantime, check out the gallery of photos below (click on the first one to then see full screen so you can click through them) or watch the videos to get a sense of what Shademakers have achieved.

We’re very excited about what could be at Department Ryde and how, with enough support and will, it will become a catalyst for other great things happening elsewhere on the Island.

Ryde Spring Windows
Press play on the video below and jump to 2.55 to see the story behind Shademakers’ Spring Windows.

Who are Shademakers
If you have never heard of Shademakers before, sit back and enjoy this short film where you can learn more about what they get up to.