Anyone wanting to register a birth, death or marriage in Stourbidge can now visit the newly refurbished Thomas Robinson building, which has had a £1.2 million overhaul.

The Grade II listed former Lye and Wollescote Chapel has undergone major restoration and is now open to the public.

The refurbishment has been carried out by the West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust, which owns the buildings and which secured money from the Heritage Lottery Fund, with support from Dudley Council.

Built in 1879, the building is made up of two Victorian Gothic-style chapels, which will now house the council’s Stourbridge registration office in one and a stylish new wedding venue in the other.

The registration office, which has moved from Stourbridge Library to the Cemetery Road location, is now open for appointments Monday to Friday from 9am until 4pm and Saturdays from 9 until 12 noon.  Councillor Judy Foster, cabinet member for corporate and customer services, said:

“This is not only a unique and stunning venue for weddings but a lovely and sensitive location for people to come to should they need to register a birth, death or wedding. I wish the venue every success in its inaugural year and beyond."                          

The Wollescote Suite, which features much of the former chapel’s original Gothic architecture, will hold marriage parties in the region of 60 people. Just like the elegant Priory Suite in Dudley’s Priory Hall wedding couples will have the same options of a live web camera and souvenir DVD, choices of music and vows.

Dudley Council will also use the building for citizenship ceremonies, naming ceremonies, civil partnership ceremonies and wedding vow renewals.