Ledbury Heritage Centre was open for half-term this week and gave visitors a first glimpse of the major changes for the 2004 season.

Downstairs exhibits have been completely re-shuffled to create the sense of a greater floor area, while structural engineers are to look at the possibility of removing some supporting oak props to open out the downstairs room even more.

The upper floor of the former Grammar School, in Church Lane, was let until recently as a private arts studio. But Herefordshire Council has now taken this back and plans to install disabled access soon and use it as a new community space for the town.

Lara Latcham, the county's visitor services officer, said: "There are many events and festivals that need venues. The poetry festival, for example."

The director of Ledbury Poetry Festival, Dr Charles Bennett, said: "This seems very interesting and I look forward to having a discussion with Herefordshire Council."

The oak props that could be removed downstairs in the 16th Century half-timbered building are not original and were put in place during the last decade, as extra structural supports. Engineers will assess which ones are really necessary.

Thanks to the removal of old display boards, visitors can now stand underneath the chimney and look straight up to the roof.

An ancient watercourse running through the building has also been exposed and can be viewed as an illuminated section in the floor, seen though a glass panel.

Miss Latcham said that more exhibits were to be brought in. New exhibits for half-term included Jacobean chairs on loan from Hill Court near Eastnor.

The model of the former magistrates' court now overlooks the complex itself from a window.

The Heritage Centre is run by 35 volunteers on a rota and attracts up to 35,000 visitors a year.