BASSENTHWAITE PARISH ROOM REBUILD UPDATE

​It's finally happened! The building firm Postlethwaite Construction Ltd from Longtown took possession of the Parish Room on Monday 23rd January and its all systems go for the next 28 weeks or so.

The contractor who was appointed in December 2016  already has great experience in this type of work having built both the new Threlkeld and Bothel village halls. Our Architect Lucy Nelson from the firm Ecoarc and our Quantity Surveyor Brian Mills from Bushell Raven have both worked with Postlethwiate in the past and have both been very pleased with their work.

Preparing the Parish Room for the builders proved to be a real community event when on Sunday 8th January  about 25 parishioners turned up and within a very short time had packed up all the Kitchen equipment and the chairs and tables. These have now gone to be stored in dry barns for the duration. This was followed by a bring and share lunch, much laughter and reminiscing of happy times spent in the hall was enjoyed by all.

During the following week all the reclaimable items were gradually removed, this included all the copper piping and the flooring which was made from Australian Oak. How do we know? Quite simply it is printed on the back of each board! 

All the money raised from selling the above will go to help off set the cost of the work. 

It is planned to compile a time capsule and place it within the new hall. If you have any ideas as to what should go in the capsule or you own an item you would like placed in it please contact Gillian Forsyth Tel: 01768776359.

​Mary Brewis will liaise with Bassenthwaite Primary School not only about adding items to the Time Capsule but also about the build in general. Mary and a member from the Postlethwaite team will be visiting the school in the near future.

Postlethwaites have said they will try to keep the disruption to a minimum but there will be road closures when large items necessary to the works are delivered.

The project is not only supported by the Big Lottery but by other grant giving Trusts such as Cumbria County Council, Cumbria Community Foundation, Cumbria Waste Management Environment Trust, The Hadfield Trust, Garfield Weston and we have also received a number of pledges. Without the generosity of these organisations this project would never have found legs.