Improvements. Phase One has begun

Thanks to the Community Ownership Fund received earlier in the year (£177,000) along with match funding raised through Crowdfunding and fundraisers (£68,000) plus a generous Grant from Penzance Town Council (£80,000) The Centenary Hall was purchased on 29th February 2024. Supported by a revenue grant from The Architectural Heritage Fund (£28,878 including 5% match funding from own funds) for surveys, searches and some legal costs, phase one of the improvements to the Hall have been possible, including much needed repairs to some of the damaged pointing and stone facia and replacement of missing slates solving the long-standing issue of water ingress and damp.

The tired stonework was treated to a chemical wash down bringing the historic granite back to its former glory. All upper level window frames delicately restored and painted by Mounts Bay Windows and necessary repairs made to some of the stained glass and lead and opening sections which have been painted shut for decades. Gutters have been cleaned and repainted in traditional black.

Inside the building, all the old Fluorescent tube lights have been upgraded to modern LED battens, now running at half the cost of the old ones while casting a more even light around the building without any flickering. Extensive electrical work including the replacement of the old fuse board has been carried out as well upgrading the infrared heaters in the main hall with more energy efficient fittings making the space nice and toasty and more economical to run. The electrical work has been carried out by St Ives based company, Murt & Navin who did an outstanding job.

Scaffolding provided by Chris Sedgeman Scaffolding

With revenue now coming into the building further improvements are being made to the third community space which was extremely tired and been victim to water ingress for many years, causing damp to floor and walls. With the help of volunteers from the Big Dance Company Community of parents and some professional overseeing the space has been fully dried out thanks to the installation of the new boiler and radiators, repainted and a temporary vinyl floor covering laid by Millhouse Carpets, Mirrors with curtains fitted makes this ground floor space accessible and warm and fit for hire to a diverse market of well-being and community activity providers, already bustling on a daily basis.

All made possible by our grant givers, supporters and community