Happy faces outside the Village Hall as residents await the opening on Saturday, 5th September.
The wooden hoardings have been removed from the car park; the tarmac has been laid; the paint pots, saws and drills have disappeared - the 'new' Village Hall is open for action! Earlier this year the Parish Council received a grant from the Big Lottery Fund to extend and improve the building and, judging from the comments I have heard, everyone is delighted at the result. The Village Hall Committee can be justly proud of what has been achieved, in particular, Lisa Thornton who spearheaded the project with great success. Having said that, Lisa doesn't rest on her laurels; she told me that if anyone spots anything that needs altering or correcting, then let her know.
The two-storey extension to the front has enabled the entrance area to be enlarged and now has a lift and new staircase. A corridor running parallel with the main hall allows access to the kitchen and new toilet facilities.
Upstairs, the walls of the main meeting room are covered with a large mural depicting scenes of the village - look closer and you may even be able to recognise a few local characters! The mural vibrates with colour and was painted by a group of enthusiastic residents. Just along the corridor, past another new toilet with baby-changing facilities, is the room once mysteriously known as the 'carpet room'. If this room ever had a carpet, I've never seen it but, from now on, it will be the Bishopthorpe Community Archive Room.
It is a little bare at present as members of the Bishopthorpe Local History Group are still sorting out furniture and storage for the collection of material that has been gathered - and which continues to grow. When the room is straightened out, it is hoped that it will be opened to members of the public on a regular basis. Those who wish to search for their Bishopthorpe ancestors; browse through photographs; research the history of their house or, indeed, any aspect of Bishopthorpe history, will be welcome. There will be more news on this at a later date.
Looking back to Saturday, 5th September, the grand re-opening of the Hall took place and many villagers arrived to view the changes for the first time.
Parish Council Chairman, Stewart Harrison, opens the refurbished Village Hall.
Continue reading Our Village Hall and the New Archive Room.
