Places features

The parish rooms in Findern had been sadly neglected for many years and were virtually unusable in Winter due to the damp and cold. After months of debate the parish council was given 12 months to refurbish or sell - the race was on!

The airy upstairs meeting room

In 2003 a restoration group was set up to begin fundraising while also finding out which local groups might use the rooms. Plans were drawn up and when two large grants amounting to nearly 48 thousand pounds were secured, building work began.

Four months later villagers were invited to see the transformation. The ground floor now consists of a small office a large meeting room a kitchen and a toilet. A disabled lift gives access to the upper floor which was re-instated and now houses a second large meeting room.

Originally the rooms were two cottages which were bought by the parish council in 1896 and converted into meeting rooms for use by the village. The upper floor was removed to make two rooms connected by an internal door. A fireplace in each room provided heating, the doors opened straight onto the street and there was no mains water.

The well was uncovered during building

The rooms are situated in the historic centre of the village where many other important buildings have been demolished. Originally the rooms were part of a group of cottages with the village school on the other side. During the renovation the original blue bricks - thought to be part of the old school yard - were uncovered. Workers received another surprise when a well was discovered in the corner of the yard.

Over the summer a group of volunteers has painted both the exterior and interior walls, made and put up curtains, installed lighting and put up a garage at the back of the building. Since then the rooms have been used by a variety of groups of all ages and for different activities. Vic Wright the parish Clerk said: "The building not only enhances the central area of the village but is also proving to be an invaluable community asset."