A North Lakes village hall in need of modernisation and a major overhaul is to be redeveloped by the local community.
Grade II listed Yew Tree Hall, a former malting barn built by the family that set up Jennings Brewery in the late 1820s, has acted as Lorton’s village hall since 1909 and is well loved and used.
Cockermouth-based WK Design Architects has been appointed for a feasibility study to explore redevelopment options to create a community facility fit for the future and accessible to all.
Yew Tree Hall Management Committee and Lorton Parish Council have embraced the challenge of improving the hall and have formed a joint working group to explore development options.
The initial reaction of the local community to the group’s ideas has been overwhelmingly positive.
On Monday committee members began clearing out the basement area which has not been touched since the 2015 floods and was full of silt from the adjacent Whit Beck.
There have been generous donations from members of the community towards the project, as well as funding support from both the Yew Tree Hall Management Committee and Lorton Parish Council.
WK Design Architects is to start work on design options which will explore the feasibility of some of the ideas generated.
“It’s great to see so many people engaged and enthusiastic about such a fabulous project,” said Cal Williamson, of WK Design Architects.
Adam Baker, chair of Yew Tree Hall Management Committee, said: “The level of support received from the local community is incredible and we are absolutely delighted to be able to appoint WK Design Architects to take this forward so quickly.
“With the community behind us, we have every confidence that the project will succeed. We plan to launch our new fundraising initiative, ‘Friends of Yew Tree Hall’, to help us achieve our vision and involve the whole community.”
He added that over the next few weeks the architects will draw up some workable plans and costings and it is hoped the work will be completed within 12 months of the necessary funds being raised.
