Work has begun on the £320,000 refurbishment project to bring Borrowdale Institute into the 21st century and create a hub building for the 300 permanent residents in the valley.
However, funds are still needed to pay for the fixtures and fittings for the interior of the 100-year-old hall, which nestles in the Borrowdale fells in the village of Rosthwaite.
The final fundraising push is being made via the crowdfunding site https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/borrowdale-institute-fixtures-fittings – for every £5 donated, the donor will be entered into a prize draw which gives them five chances of winning a two-night stay at a one of five hotels in the valley, the prizes up for grabs at: The Borrowdale Gates, Scafell Hotel, The Royal Oak Hotel, Glaramara Hotel and Seatoller House.
It has taken more than two years of hard work by the village institute trustees, past and present, to bring the ambitious plans for the hall to fruition.
Work includes an extension to the ground floor and the creation of three distinct areas within the building as well as up-to-date kitchen and toilet facilities.
The main hall could provide facilities for 70-100 people and will include lighting and a stage if needed.
A ground floor community room will create a smaller space for 30, while the first floor Herdwick Suite will have a wheelchair lift and a balcony looking over Castle Crag in the valley.
More than £73,000 has been raised by residents in the valley through generous donations and scores of fundraising activities over the years to bring in the cash.
Other large donations have come from: The Big Lottery Fund (£73,000); The Government Village Hall Fund (£52,000); The Garfield Weston Foundation (£20,000); The Prince of Wales Trust (£10,000), The Hadfield Trust (£2,500); and United Utilities’ Legacy Fund (£5,000).
Malcolm Stonestreet, chair of the trustees, said: “Our aim is to create a quality community facility which will create a hub building for our 300 residents and a focal point for the millions of visitors who come to our valley.”
It is Borrowdale Institutes 100th birthday this year, but trustees plan to delay celebrations until next spring when the building work should be complete.
He added: “We will have a totally new look building to take Borrowdale Institute through its next 100 years. However, we still need that last little push to make sure everything is in place.”
