Gosforth's 1628 hall is saved, and it's coming off the at-risk list Gosforth Public Hall's 1628 building saved and off the Heritage at Risk register
Marra Mode is how your mate would tell you down the pub over a pint. Switch it off for the straight version.
Gosforth Public Hall's old 1628 end was in a bad way, but £547,000 of repairs later it's sound again and coming off the at-risk list. Now they're cracking on with the 1930s main hall.
If you're from Gosforth or round about and you use the Public Hall, the little volunteer library or any of the groups that meet there, this one's for you.
The oldest bit of the hall, built in 1628 and Grade II* listed, has been made safe and sound again. That means it can come off Historic England's Heritage at Risk list, now the first lot of work's finished.
It went on that list in 2025 because water had been getting in and damaging the structure. Fixing it took a £445,763 grant from the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund, which Historic England runs with government money, plus £101,679 from the Copeland Community Fund. That paid for a new roof, fresh render, stonework repairs and swapping out rotten wooden lintels.
Jacqueline Williams, the parish clerk at Gosforth Parish Council, said: "It was touch and go at times, but we are delighted that the building is now stable and can be removed from the 'Heritage at Risk' register."
Next up is the main 1930s hall. They're building a new kitchen and storeroom on the back, with money from the Mid-Copeland GDF Community Partnership, National Lottery Awards for All and the South Cumberland Community Panel.
The parish council has thanked everyone who chipped in, from funders to the hall committee and the groups who did their own fundraising.
What you can do Keep using the hall and the little library, and back the groups that meet there. Keep an eye on Gosforth Parish Council's website for updates, and Historic England's website explains what the at-risk list is all about.
The oldest part of Gosforth Public Hall, dating from 1628 and Grade II* listed, has been stabilised after a £547,000 first phase of repairs and can come off Historic England's Heritage at Risk register. Work on the 1930s main hall is now under way.
This is for people in Gosforth and the villages around it who use the Public Hall, its volunteer-run library and the groups that meet there.
The 1628 section of Gosforth Public Hall, a Grade II* listed building, has been stabilised and can now be removed from Historic England's Heritage at Risk register, after the first phase of a refurbishment was completed.
Historic England added the hall to the register in 2025 because of structural damage caused by water getting into the building. Phase one was paid for by a £445,763 grant from the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund, which is led by Historic England and funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and match-funded by £101,679 from the Copeland Community Fund. The work included a new roof, re-rendering, masonry repairs and replacing rotten wooden lintels.
Jacqueline Williams, parish clerk at Gosforth Parish Council, said: "It was touch and go at times, but we are delighted that the building is now stable and can be removed from the 'Heritage at Risk' register."
Phase two is now under way on the main 1930s hall. It includes a new kitchen and storeroom in a rear extension, supported by the Mid-Copeland GDF Community Partnership, National Lottery Awards for All and the South Cumberland Community Panel.
The parish council has thanked funders, the hall committee and user groups for their fundraising.
What you can do The hall and its volunteer-run library are in use, so keep supporting the groups that meet there. Gosforth Parish Council's website has updates on the project, and Historic England's website explains the Heritage at Risk register.