Armathwaite Village Hall
AOSH exterior after repointing.
Category: Community buildings
Following a building and energy survey in 2016, Armathwaite Old School Hall Committee decided to plan major renovations of the Armathwaite Old School Hall building to bring it up to modern standards and establish it as a warm, welcoming space for all. The work began in 2017 with the exterior pointing to help damp proof the building after receiving funding from the Eden Community Fund. This was followed by more major renovations which commenced in 2023 after further fundraising and successful grant applications. The work included insulating and rendering the old part of the hall, cavity wall insulation of the modern end, installing a new heating and lighting system and updating the toilets
These renovations have helped to rejuvenate the Hall, making it more energy efficient, attractive and a desirable location for holding events. Events include classes, concerts and a range of community events including the Community Cafe which takes place twice a month. The cafe has become very popular with residents providing a space where the community and surrounding area can enjoy food donated by village members whilst connecting with other members of their community.
The hall also has a beautiful garden which had sadly fallen into a state of disrepair and was only accessible by a set of steps. In 2025 following two years of fundraising a bridge was built to make the garden more accessible. The bridge was designed by one of the Hall Committee Members and funding came from residents of the local community who sponsored each of the 78 individual wooden boards on the bridge in addition to local fundraising events.
Where
Armathwaite.
Who
Armathwaite Old School Hall Committee.
What are you most proud of?
We are incredibly proud of our efforts in raising money for the bridge ourselves, rather than relying on grant funding. The sponsoring of the wooden boards proved a very successful way of obtaining a lot of the money we needed. We are also very proud of the work done to the toilets as this has vastly improved a previously quite run down part of the Hall and made it more energy efficient in the process.
How did you get people involved?
We have a diverse committee with a range of different skills and expertise which has been invaluable during the different renovation projects. We are also very lucky to have a very supportive community who are keen to support the fundraising events we hold, from craft events to coffee mornings and everything in between.
What difference did the project make?
Through the renovations, we have managed to create a more comfortable, energy-efficient and accessible place that everyone in the community can enjoy and feel welcomed in. We have also created a space which can hold events which support the local community, such as the community lunches.
What do you wish you had known at the start?
As with any renovation, there was some technical knowledge that we wished we had at the start that would have helped us navigate the projects a bit easier. We also didn’t realise initially that the bridge would require planning permission which added additional complications and costs to the project so, next time, we would make sure to look into these things before starting.
What do you hope for the future of your project?
We are hoping to start raising funds to replace the kitchen facilities with a modern, semi-commercial kitchen which will help support our community cafes and other events.
AOSH garden bridge.