Heritage Lottery Support Conservation at Parish Hall

PRESS RELEASE

Celebrating a Century as a Parish Hall - East Worlington Parish Hall, a Converted C17th Tithe Barn Wins National Lottery Support

East Worlington Parish Hall has received a £34,500.00 National Lottery grant from Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for an exciting project to Conserve East Worlington Parish Hall, Research It’s Role Over the Last 100 Years and Celebrate its Heritage. Led by volunteers from the local community, the project provides a focus which engages and harnesses local interest, knowledge, skills, energy and time to achieve the project outcomes. This includes ensuring the building is conserved in better condition, that a wide range of people have access to more information about the Hall and its role in the community over the last 100 years and that we celebrate the dedication of the community over that period of time in sustaining this vital community facility.    While this is a community project, especially exciting is the support and contribution made by the pupils attending East Worlington Primary School and students attending Chulmleigh Community School who will develop skills and learning as part of their work on the project and hopefully gain an appreciation of their heritage and the need to understand it, record it, preserve it and celebrate it. The support of the community is a vital in enabling us to undertake this project and we continue to be appreciative and grateful for so many people from our community who volunteer and make such a difference to the sustainability of their community and community life. The outcomes from this project will support and further reinforce the role of the Hall as a Community Hub and Local Heritage Learning Centre.

East Worlington Parish Hall, which is a Grade II Listed converted tithe barn dating to the late C17th, of mainly cob wall and thatched construction, is of heritage value with archaeological, architectural and historic significance. As a Devonian Parish Hall, its construction and evolution as a building is unique and highlights the importance for further research and recording. As a community facility, it provides a venue for learning, social and recreational purposes, health-related activities, meetings of community organisations and interest groups and is used by our local primary school for performances and events and therefore its viability and sustainability are highly important.

The Hall is managed by a group of Trustees who are local volunteers and who act as the Hall’s Management Committee. They are a dedicated group who are instrumental in leading the ambition for this project and providing governance to ensure it is achieved.

Commenting on the award Steve Baber (Project Leader) said: “I was delighted to learn that National Lottery has agreed to support our exciting heritage project which is aimed at conserving our much-loved historic converted tithe barn and celebrating 100 years of its life as a Parish Hall serving the community. In addition to conserving the building the project provides an opportunity for our community and pupils at our local schools, East Worlington Primary School and Chulmleigh Community College to learn about the heritage associate with Hall, share that learning widely and celebrate through exhibitions and events the richness of our community’s history. This is truly an important project for us which engages and enriches the sense of community.” Nerys Watts, Head of HLF South West, said: “Building on successful conservation work at the village hall, which was also made possible by National Lottery players, we’re pleased to support these plans which will enable people of all ages to celebrate a century of their community heritage.”